In August, when the Rhine Valley Railway was completely closed, the diesel shuttles on the left bank of the Rhine showed their best side. Around 20 freight trains per day travelled the route through Alsace thanks to an initiative organised using diesel locomotives on the non-electrified line Wörth-Lauterbourg-Strasbourg-Offenburg. This highlights the need to expand the tracks on the left bank of the Rhine in France to ensure the stability of combined transport on the north-south axis.
Despite challenges such as limited capacity at transfer points and an increase in traffic towards the end of the month, Hupac assessed the results of the three-week closure as positive. The project to organise an alternative route through France was developed over three years with the participation of SBB Cargo International, Captrain France, DB InfraGo and SNCF Réseau. The initiators of the project were able to prevent freight from returning to the road by offering market-based solutions.
With corridor upgrades planned in Germany until 2030, Hupac is set to expand its routes on the left bank of the Rhine via France, despite the additional costs. The company is already planning container trains from 2025, providing an alternative to the congested German corridors.