The parcels are transported in dedicated, closed cargo compartments located within passenger TGV trains. The journey covers 470 kilometres in approximately 2 hours and 18 minutes, with trains reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h.
The service is managed by Hexafret, a subsidiary of Rail Logistics Europe, and is designed to reduce both delivery times and carbon emissions on a major domestic logistics corridor. According to Amazon, rail accounted for over 25% of its inter-site inventory movements in France in 2024, double the figure recorded in 2022.
This shift towards rail is part of Amazon’s broader decarbonisation strategy. The company aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2040 and is increasingly using lower-emission transport modes. In Europe, it now operates over 500 rail and sea freight lanes.
Bénédicte Colin, President of VIIA and Naviland Cargo at Rail Logistics Europe, said the project reflects a broader effort to modernise freight transport:
“This initiative demonstrates Rail Logistics Europe’s ability to redefine rail freight in France and Europe by leveraging synergies between its companies, including VIIA for rail motorways and Hexafret for high-speed parcel services.”
The environmental case for rail is supported by emission comparisons: studies referenced by Amazon indicate that freight trains emit around ten times less CO₂ per kilometre than heavy goods vehicles, assuming equal cargo mass. On the Paris end of the corridor, the company reports that up to two-thirds of last-mile deliveries are completed using electric vehicles, cargo bikes or on foot.
Looking ahead, Amazon is studying the possibility of opening further high-speed rail corridors in France and elsewhere in Europe. The company has also invested €250 million in decarbonising its transport network in France, including its largest-ever order of 200 electric heavy-duty vehicles earlier this year.
“Our expanding logistics network brings our sites closer to customers, significantly reducing distances travelled,” Amazon stated in a recent update on the initiative.
