Europorte

Europorte is a European rail freight company, a subsidiary of Getlink; operating in France and through the Channel Tunnel.

Europorte
IndustryRail freight
FoundedDecember 2009
Headquarters
Lille 
Area served
Channel Tunnel, France
~€50 million[1][note 1]
Number of employees
~550[1][note 1]
ParentGetlink
SubsidiariesEuroporte Channel
Europorte France
Europorte Proximity
Europorte Services
Socorail
Websitewww.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

After 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
Main article: Europorte Channel

During 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 to Europorte Channel, following the acquisition of Veolia Cargo France.[3]

Europorte France

Europorte France (formerly Veolia Cargo France)[3] was acquired in 2009. Including those in use with "Europorte Link", the subsidiary has 28 locomotives and operated over 100 trains per week, with a 162 employees combined.[note 3]

Europorte Proximité

Europorte 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

Socorail 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
Main article: GB Railfreight

In May 2010, FirstGroup put its FirstGBRf freight division up for sale. Eurotunnel, SNCF and Freightliner were reported as being interested in the company.[6] The company was acquired by Europorte on 1 June 2010 for £31 million.[7][8] Following its acquisition by Europorte, the company reverted to its original name of GB Railfreight.

In 2016, GB Railfreight was then acquired from Eurotunnel by EQT Partners to become part of Hector Rail.[9]

Europorte Services

In January 2010 the Port of Dunkerque awarded Eurotunnel a seven-year to operate its 200 km railway system.[10] The subsidiary Europorte Services began operating the port's rail network in December 2010.[11]

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See also

References and notes

Notes
  1. Figures at time of creation of company (December 2009) from combined companies.
  2. Europorte company website, section "Europorte"
  3. Europorte company website, section "Europorte France and Europorte Link"
  4. Europorte company website, section "Europorte Channel"
  5. Europorte company website, section "Europorte Proximité"
  6. Europorte company website, section "Socorail"

References
  1. Europorte Company website www.europorte.com
  2. "Eurotunnel completes first external expansion in its history with the acquisition of the French businesses of Veolia Cargo". Euroinvestor. 1 December 2009.
  3. Falkner, James (1 December 2009). "Eurotunnel completes Veolia Cargo takeover". International Freight Weekly. Informa.
  4. "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
  5. "Veolia and CMA CGM part company", www.worldcargonews.com, 17 March 2009, archived from the original on 29 January 2016, retrieved 10 March 2012
  6. Bidders line up for FirstGroup's freight unit- FT 3 May 2010 , www.reuters.com
  7. FIRSTGROUP PLC : Disposal of rail freight business PR Newswire Europe via COMTEX , 1 June 2010 , via www.tradingmarkets.com
  8. Eurotunnel buys GBRf from FirstGroup 1 June 2010 , uk.reuters.com
  9. "EQT completes acquisition of GB Railfreight". Railway Gazette. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  10. "DUNKERQUE PORT choisit EUROTUNNEL pour l'exploitation et la maintenance de son réseau férré", www.dunkerque-port.fr (in French), 13 January 2010
  11. Europorte company website, "EUROPORTE Services", accessdate 10 March 2012
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