Union rap for Fret SNCF
French rail freight operator's decision not to join single-wagon alliance a 'suicide strategy'
The French CGT labour union has described Fret SNCF’s decision not to take part in Xrail, the pan-European single-wagon alliance launched last week, as further evidence of the state rail operator’s “suicidal strategy of breaking up its freight activities”.
A CGT spokesman told IFW: “On the occasion of the re-launch of its own single-rail wagon services, in September 2008, Fret SNCF had pledged its backing to Xrail. Now we have a complete u-turn.
“Clearly, it sees no future in this segment of the market, but can seven major rail freight operators be wrong?”
The Xrail alliance brings together seven operators – DB Schenker Rail, CD Cargo (Czech Republic), CFL Cargo (Luxembourg), Green Cargo (Sweden and Norway), Rail Cargo Austria, CFF Cargo (Switzerland) and SNCB Logistics (Belgium).
Its main objective is to win volumes from road operators by making cross-border single-wagon traffic in Europe more competitive by increasing reliability to at least 90%, bringing transparency by introducing international timetables from supplier siding to customer siding, and offering a standard process for booking.
No-one from Fret SNCF was available for comment.
Meanwhile, another union has called for unlimited strike action by its SNCF members from 23 March, in protest over restructuring plans, including those for the freight division. The CGT has yet to decide whether to join the stoppage.
A CGT spokesman told IFW: “On the occasion of the re-launch of its own single-rail wagon services, in September 2008, Fret SNCF had pledged its backing to Xrail. Now we have a complete u-turn.
“Clearly, it sees no future in this segment of the market, but can seven major rail freight operators be wrong?”
The Xrail alliance brings together seven operators – DB Schenker Rail, CD Cargo (Czech Republic), CFL Cargo (Luxembourg), Green Cargo (Sweden and Norway), Rail Cargo Austria, CFF Cargo (Switzerland) and SNCB Logistics (Belgium).
Its main objective is to win volumes from road operators by making cross-border single-wagon traffic in Europe more competitive by increasing reliability to at least 90%, bringing transparency by introducing international timetables from supplier siding to customer siding, and offering a standard process for booking.
No-one from Fret SNCF was available for comment.
Meanwhile, another union has called for unlimited strike action by its SNCF members from 23 March, in protest over restructuring plans, including those for the freight division. The CGT has yet to decide whether to join the stoppage.
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