A new €25 million multimodal terminal developed by MODAL GROUP and Dunkerque-Port has officially opened in Dunkirk, strengthening the French port's position as a major hub for rail, road and maritime freight while creating new opportunities for bulk and tank cargo transport.
Inaugurated on 15 October, less than a year after construction began, the 9.6-hectare facility is already operating three weekly rail services between Dunkirk and Lyon.
Plans are also in place to extend the corridor to Piacenza, Italy, in 2027, further enhancing connectivity between northern France and key European industrial centres.
Located along the Loon-Plage railway line, the terminal has been designed to serve a wide variety of cargo sectors.
Alongside conventional intermodal traffic, it can handle equipment used for dry bulk transport, including powders, granules and other industrial materials, as well as tanks carrying liquid food products and chemicals.
The site is also equipped to accommodate specialist cryogenic and high-pressure tanks, reflecting growing demand for the transportation of industrial gases and emerging low-carbon energy products.
Infrastructure at the terminal includes four 750-metre rail tracks, storage capacity for 800 TEU and parking for 150 semi-trailers. It can process containers, swap bodies and road-rail semi-trailers ranging from 20ft to 45ft in length. Additional services include maintenance for intermodal units, wagons and locomotives, along with electrical connections for refrigerated containers and charging points for heavy goods vehicles.
According to the project partners, the terminal could eventually transfer up to 50,000 intermodal transport units from road to rail annually. This would deliver potential carbon savings of approximately 70,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
The development forms part of a wider strategy to strengthen European rail freight corridors and support the decarbonisation of supply chains. With direct access to port facilities and future links to Italy, the terminal is expected to play an increasingly important role in the movement of bulk commodities, tank containers and other intermodal freight across Europe.
Dunkirk terminal targets bulk and tank logistics growth
