Europorte is a European rail freight company, a subsidiary of Getlink; operating in France and through the Channel Tunnel.
 | |
| Industry | Rail freight |
|---|---|
| Founded | December 2009 |
| Headquarters | , France  |
Area served | Channel Tunnel, France |
| ~€50 million[1][note 1] | |
Number of employees | ~550[1][note 1] |
| Parent | Getlink |
| Subsidiaries | Europorte Channel Europorte France Europorte Proximity Europorte Services Socorail |
| Website | www.europorte.com |
The company was formed in 2009 as an entity encompassing the previous operations of Europorte 2 and the France-based businesses of Veolia Cargo. Eurotunnel's original freight business, Europorte 2, was rebranded to become Europorte Channel and moved as a subsidiary under the Europorte division of the Eurotunnel Group.[2][3]
Subsidiaries
editAfter the acquisition of Veolia Cargo French subsidiaries in 2009, Europorte had five subsidiaries; one previously under Eurotunnel's control and four operations arriving via the purchase. All of these five units had already held permissions as open-access operators on the French railway network since 2004.[note 2] Veolia Cargo Link[3] was also acquired as part of the Veolia Cargo France purchase in 2009;[note 3] Veolia Cargo Link operated as a joint venture between CMA CGM and Veolia Cargo from 2006 until the joint venture was terminated in early 2009 due to lack of profitability.[4][5] As of 2012 the subsidiary Europorte Link is not listed as operational by Eurotunnel.
UK based rail freight company First GBRf was acquired in 2010 from FirstGroup and rebranded as GB Railfreight. The subsidiary Europorte Services was established (2010) as the operating company of the rail network of the Port of Dunkirk.
Europorte Channel
editDuring 2008 the operation had operated 2718 trains in France and 878 trains through the Channel Tunnel. Its fleet in 2009 consisted of eleven British Rail Class 92 locomotives, and one Alstom Prima electric locomotive.[note 4] In December 2008 Europorte 2 was renamed Europorte Channel, following the acquisition of Veolia Cargo France.[3]
Europorte France
editEuroporte France (formerly Veolia Cargo France) was acquired in 2009.[6][7] Including those in use with "Europorte Link", the subsidiary has 28 locomotives and operated over 100 trains per week, with a 163 employees combined.[note 3]
Europorte Proximité
editEuroporte Proximité constitutes part of the former CFTA Cargo[3] operation, acquired through the purchase of Veolia Cargo France in 2009. The company operates freight trains on the former CFTA Franche-Comté network, a group of secondary lines in France, well known for being the last place in France where a commercial steam train ran (in 1975). The present network is in two parts, based on Châtillon sur Seine (Côte D'Or) and Gray (Haute Saône) the section of line connecting the two having been out of use for some years. The company operates the former CFTA workshops at Gray, well known for maintaining preserved steam locomotives as well as operational diesel locomotives. It also has a track maintenance arm. [note 5]
Socorail
editSocorail was acquired as part of Veolia Cargo France in 2009. Socorail provides services on industrial railway sidings, and operates 61 shunting locomotives.[note 6]
GB Railfreight
editGB Railfreight was acquired by Europorte from FirstGroup in June 2010 for £31 million.[8][9][10] In 2016, GB Railfreight was sold to EQT AB to become part of Hector Rail.[11]
Europorte Services
editIn January 2010 the Port of Dunkirk awarded Eurotunnel a seven-year to operate its 200 km railway system.[12] The subsidiary Europorte Services began operating the port's rail network in December 2010.[13]
References and notes
editNotes
edit- ^ a b Figures at time of creation of company (December 2009) from combined companies.
- ^ Europorte company website, section "Europorte"
- ^ a b Europorte company website, section "Europorte France and Europorte Link"
- ^ Europorte company website, section "Europorte Channel"
- ^ Europorte company website, section "Europorte Proximité"
- ^ Europorte company website, section "Socorail"
References
edit- ^ a b Europorte Company website www.europorte.com
- ^ "Eurotunnel completes first external expansion in its history with the acquisition of the French businesses of Veolia Cargo". Euroinvestor. 1 December 2009.
- ^ a b c d Falkner, James (1 December 2009). "Eurotunnel completes Veolia Cargo takeover". International Freight Weekly. Informa. Archived from the original on 5 December 2009.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Veolia Transport : Cargo" (PDF), www.veolia.transport.cn, Veolia Cargo Link, March 2007, archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2012,
Rail Link Europe, subsidiary of Veolia Cargo and of CMA--CGM ... and Veolia Transport, has launched at the end of 2006 ... combined rail transportation of marine containers, between major port terminals and the main economic regions. Veolia Cargo Link, a rail company (51% controlled by Veolia Transport and 49% by Rail Link), is specialized in transportation by rail of maritime containers
- ^ "Veolia and CMA CGM part company", www.worldcargonews.com, 17 March 2009, archived from the original on 29 January 2016, retrieved 10 March 2012
- ^ "Veolia Cargo sale confirmed". Today's Railways Europe. No. 166. October 2009. p. 6.
- ^ "Eurotunnel and SNCF acquire Veolia Cargo". International Railway Journal. No. October 2009. p. 16.
- ^ FIRSTGROUP PLC : Disposal of rail freight business Trading Markets 1 June 2010
- ^ Eurotunnel buys GBRf from FirstGroup Reuters 1 June 2010
- ^ "Eurotunnel buys GBRf". The Railway Magazine. No. 1312. August 2010. p. 10.
- ^ "EQT completes acquisition of GB Railfreight". Railway Gazette International. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "DUNKERQUE PORT choisit EUROTUNNEL pour l'exploitation et la maintenance de son réseau férré", www.dunkerque-port.fr (in French), 13 January 2010
- ^ Europorte company website, "EUROPORTE Services", accessdate 10 March 2012