France: Difficulties for rail freight in 2016

12.12.2016

France: Difficulties for rail freight in 2016
Les Echos, 12 Dec 2016, online:-
During the first half of 2016, rail freight operators in France generated a 5% decrease in transported volumes due to the difficulties of their traditional clients (cereal and steel specialists mainly). Fret SNCF still has 60% market share in rail freight, but its losses should increase in 2016. Other private operators must order their schedules from SNCF Réseau one year in advance without certainty that there will not be delays due to maintenance and strike work at the SNCF. They must also face an increase in wage costs, which is leading to reorganisations and job cuts (+10% for costs at Europorte, which plans a workforce reduction to increase productivity by 10%).
©M-Brain
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