Plans for the re-organisation of rail freight into the French Mediterranean port of Marseille-Fos, which serves as an important hub for both domestic and international traffic, has been given the green light following a public enquiry, much to the dismay of local residents.
The total investment in the project is estimated at almost 60 million euros, which is co-financed by the EU, the French State, regional and local authorities, and the Port of Marseille-Fos (GPMM).
Line opens after a 30-year closure
Piloted by the GPMM and French rail network manager SNCF Réseau, the investment makes provision for the reactivation of the Mourepiane junction in Marseille’s 16th arrondissement. This will compensate for the closure of the Canet rail freight station by June of this year, the site of which has been earmarked for urban development.
The Mourepiane section of the track, which has been closed for over 30 years, is to be rehabilitated within the next two years. It will provide a link between the SNCF network and the port’s maritime services, enabling long freight trains to be routed directly to the Med Europe freight terminal. In the longer term, it should help reduce the number of trucks on the area’s roads. The re-organisation is also expected to provide scope for a shift in some train loads to the nearby Miramas rail freight hub.
Work is due to start by the end of the year and is scheduled for completion in 2026. In the meantime trains will have to transit via the Arenc railway station at the risk of creating some friction between rail services for freight and passenger traffic.
Residents are not happy
Local residents’ associations strongly opposed the project and succeeded in having an initial draft abandoned in 2015. They fear that the passage of freight trains in close proximity to housing, together with the growth of combined transport, will further degrade their quality of life.
Reacting to the news that the project had been given the go-ahead, a spokesperson for one of the associations told local newspaper La Provence that “action to challenge the decision” is planned. “We’re giving ourselves time to digest it, but we won’t stop there.”
Unclear points raise concerns
In his report, the public enquiry’s investigating commissioner, Jacques Daligaux, acknowledged that the project “suffers from gaps and inaccuracies when it comes to measures to reduce the impact of the project, particularly in terms of noise and atmospheric pollution.”
Nevertheless, he asserted that he has obtained guarantees to reduce the risks to local residents. These include the installation of electrical charging infrastructure for container ships in port, the decarbonisation of locomotives, a ban on the use of diesel when passing through a particular district of Marseille where a school is located, and the installation of a noise reduction system.
“The project ticks the necessary boxes” and “contributes to sustainable development”, Daligaux said. “Not approving it would have had damaging consequences for local residents, with an increase in road traffic. Moreover, making rail freight traffic impossible in Marseille would have been irresponsible, and we need to give these developments a chance.”
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