A new road-rail terminal in Dunkirk

Construction of a new road-rail terminal in Dunkirk has been launched by the Port of Dunkirk and Modalis Group, the company selected to operate the new facility from March 2026. Located on 9.6 hectares along the Loon-Plage railway line, in the heart of a dense industrial area and close to the Ro-Ro terminals to the UK and Ireland, the terminal will significantly reduce road congestion and CO2 emissions while optimizing freight flows in the Hauts-de-France region. Designed to transfer freight from road to rail, the terminal can accommodate up to four 750-meter trains, each with the capacity to carry 130-150 semi-trailers.

Its storage area can accommodate over 600 transport units, including containers and trailers. Up to 50,000 intermodal transport units could be removed from the road annually, avoiding nearly 70,000 tons of CO2 emissions. The transshipment terminal project is centered on a commitment to sustainability, using modern, low-emission equipment, including electric locomotives and HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fueled vehicles.

HVO-fueled vehicles reduce CO2 emissions by 85%, and electric locomotives are used for rail maneuvers, minimizing environmental impact. A shared maintenance area for wagons, containers, and semi-trailers will be open to all operators, increasing operational efficiency and reducing empty runs. Transport accounts for nearly 30% of France's CO2 emissions, making the development of greener freight transport solutions a national priority.

The terminal supports this objective by transferring road traffic to rail, reducing dependence on road transport alone and aligning with the France Logistique 2030 Plan and the European Green Deal, which aim to double the volume of freight transported by rail by 2050.

The new road-rail terminal in Dunkirk is worth EUR 25 million, co-financed by Modalis and the Port of Dunkirk, and is scheduled to be operational in spring 2026.

It is located in the West Port and will serve as a new-generation multimodal platform designed to accelerate the decarbonization of freight transport in Europe.