It makes provision for ro-ro vessels, operating from Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, to dock in Marseille where non-accompanied semi-trailerswould be handled at a rail freight terminal close to the quayside and transferred directly on to rail wagons. 

Trains would feed the "rail motorway" service, operated by Lorry Rail, between Perpignanand Bettembourg. 

"LD Lines has operated between Marseille and Tunis since 1999 and the ro-ro rail service would strengthen Marseille's standingin the eyes of shippers in the Northern Europe, principally in the Benelux," said the carrier's MD, Christophe Santoni. 

Earlier this year, under the auspices of the Cercle de l'Optimodalité en Europe (COE), a draftagreement was signed by a number of parties interested in the project: Marseille Port Authority (GPMM), LD Lines, SNCF Geodis and investment fund Opticapital SAS. 

COE President Philippe Mangeard, who also owns Opticapital and flat-bed rail wagon maker Modalohr, told: "We are finalising the businessplan for the project. GPMM has already pledged its supportto the development of a rail terminal and we expect the projectto be given the green light before the end of the year, with the creation of an operating company. The first trainscould enter service during 2013," he added. 

The project has also attractedinterest from French shipping line CMA CGM, which also operates ro-roservices between North Africa and Marseille, and LuxembourgRailways (CFL) which is planning to expand capacitysignificantly at its combined transport hub in Bettembourg by 2015. 

"We are not only targeting semi-trailertraffic, but containers too" Mangeard said. 

Lorry Rail operates four timesdaily from Perpignan and recently announced it was extending the serviceto southern Sweden. 

 "The servicewe are proposing will be cheaper, quicker and safer than roadtransport and many trucks will be taken off heavily congested highways. We are not only looking to attract clients in Marseille, but also tocapture traffic currently transiting by other Mediterranean ports, such as Barcelona and Genoa," Mangeard added.

    IFW-net 30/05/2011