CargoBeamer, a company specializing in the rail transport of semi-trailers, has increased the frequency of its service on the Calais–Perpignan route from four to six round trips per week. This expansion is being implemented in stages: a fifth service was added in April 2026, with a sixth scheduled for June. Once the expansion is complete, the service will operate on a nearly daily basis in both directions – from Monday to Saturday – thereby reinforcing the route’s status as one of France’s key intermodal corridors. Since December 2025, rail operations on this line have been conducted jointly with the operator Lineas.
The route connects the CargoBeamer terminal in Calais with the Perpignan Saint Charles container terminal, offering a transit time of approximately 28 hours. The service accommodates various types of cargo, including craneable and non-craneable semi-trailers, refrigerated and ADR units, tank trailers, and containers. By shifting cargo from road to rail, CO₂ emissions are reduced by approximately 93% per transported unit – equivalent to a saving of over 1,100 kg of carbon dioxide compared to road transport.
Rising demand for intermodal transport in France has been a key driver behind this service expansion. The northern terminal in Calais provides a convenient link to the United Kingdom via the Eurotunnel and maritime routes, while the southern hub in Perpignan – situated near the Spanish border – facilitates the handling of cargo flows bound for Barcelona and Southern Europe. CargoBeamer notes a sustained increase in demand for this route, emphasizing the strategic role of this corridor – stretching from the English Channel to the Pyrenees – in the development of the European logistics network.