Construction has begun on a multimodal freight terminal in the northern French port city of Dunkirk, developed jointly by the Port of Dunkirk and Modalis Group. The project is estimated to cost €25 million, with commissioning scheduled for spring 2026. The new terminal will be part of a strategy to develop sustainable and intermodal transport in the region.
The 9.6-hectare terminal will be located along the Longs-Plage railway line in the heart of an industrial zone, close to the port terminals servicing ro-ro vessels from the UK and Ireland. The infrastructure will accommodate up to four 750-meter-long trains, each designed to carry 130-150 semi-trailers. Temporary storage areas will accommodate more than 600 transport units, including containers and semi-trailers.
The terminal is expected to take up to 50,000 trucks off the road annually and reduce CO₂ emissions by nearly 70,000 tonnes. The facility will utilize low-emission equipment, including electric locomotives and vehicles powered by HVO biofuel. A maintenance facility for railcars, swap bodies, and semi-trailers will also be established on site. The first rail route will connect Dunkirk with Piacenza via Lyon and will be operated by Delta Rail, a subsidiary of Modalis Group, providing a reliable connection between the industrial regions of Northern and Southern Europe and maritime transport across the English Channel in conjunction with DFDS lines.