The 9.6-hectare terminal, located near the port’s roll-on/roll-off terminals and key logistics zones, is designed to shift long-distance freight from road to rail in a bid to cut carbon emissions and reduce road congestion.
Once fully operational, the terminal will handle up to four 750-metre trains per day and is expected to remove 50,000 intermodal transport units (ITUs) from roads annually by 2032. This modal shift is projected to prevent nearly 70,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year.
Construction begins this August with the development of site access, followed by the building of a multimodal platform. The total investment is estimated at €25 million, with up to 15 jobs to be created by 2030.
In addition to handling unaccompanied semi-trailers and swap bodies, the terminal will offer services such as vehicle washing and minor maintenance. It will also be open to trains operated by other companies, allowing shared use across the logistics sector.
An initial international rail connection between Dunkirk and northern Italy is planned from the opening, operated by Modalis subsidiary Delta Rail.
“This new terminal represents a major opportunity for modal shift… and marks significant progress towards the decarbonisation of transport chains,” said Maurice Georges, Chairman of the Dunkerque-Port executive board.
The terminal forms part of a wider regional strategy to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, aligning with both French and EU climate goals.
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