Given that the Dover Straits Port Group, including the Channel Tunnel, currently handles 66% of all freight vehicles (including 88% of accompanied trailers) heading for mainland Europe from the UK, the Calais region is critical in providing the main cargo link between the UK and Continental Europe.

With this in mind, key ferry and rail operators are keen to improve the infrastructure in the region and have proposed a number of schemes including;

  1. A logistics development at Calais to cost €200 Million (partnership between City of Calais, Port Managers and DCB International);
  2. A modernised rail link with Dunkirk and new railway junction (invested in by Cap Calaisis)
  3. Adoption of new 'road to rail' technology which offers the ability to take any accompanied trailer, detach the truck and load the trailer to what is effectively a giant pallet for onward, unaccompanied transfer throughout Europe by a suitably low rail wagon, no matter the rail gauge or whether a train is present or not;
  4. The launch of the ETICA (Eurotunnel Incentive for Capacity Additions) mechanism which is available to all railway operators. It provides one off financial support for start-up investments for 1 year. The fund is paid by Eurotunnel and was set up in recognition of the fact that the difficulty in operating intermodal rail freight services through the channel tunnel lies in marketing and service start-up costs. It is thought that assistance with these start-up costs will improve uptake of rail freight through the tunnel.

Providing investment can be found, the future of cross channel trade looks set to change, with new schemes and technology providing a huge reduction in road miles on both sides of the channel. This in turn will assist in reducing the environmental impact of transportation to France from the UK and will ensure that the UK can trade efficiently with mainland Europe.

For further information see:  http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/calais-aims-high-with-the-environment-rail-freight-ferry-and-eurotunnel-cargo-in-multimodal-plans_4633

And: http://www.globalrailnews.com/2013/05/30/eurotunnel-launches-etica-to-help-develop-intermodal-rail-freight/

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