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Photo credits @ Modalis

French family business launches Europe’s fastest intermodal wagon

MODALIS, a French family group founded in 2002 specializing in intermodal logistics solutions, is set to launch the fastest intermodal transport wagon on the European market.

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 The wagon is designed for transporting containers, swap bodies, and refrigerated swap bodies, approved to travel at a speed of 140 km per hour, making it the fastest container wagon in Europe. This launch coincides with efforts to encourage low carbon transport, with the French Minister announcing measures to promote rail freight, crucial for decarbonising the French logistics sector.

MODALIS, established in 2002, provides bespoke logistics solutions, emphasizing the quality of equipment such as swap bodies, containers, chassis, and wagons. The group supports various entities in adopting more environmentally friendly transportation methods, catering to general goods, food products, petrochemicals, hazardous materials, and more. Their portfolio includes innovative intermodal equipment to facilitate rail, river, or maritime aspects in logistics chains.

The European freight wagon fleet, estimated at around 700,000 wagons, needs to more than double by 2050 to meet emission reduction targets. The sector is promising, with market deregulation and measures promoting rail freight. Companies are exploring opportunities to immediately reduce environmental impact, considering the shortage of truck drivers in Europe. Rail transport is highlighted as more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, consuming significantly less energy and emitting fewer harmful particles and carbon dioxide compared to road transport.

In France, where only 11% of freight is transported by rail (compared to 18% at a European level), the market is promising. The collaboration with Slovak manufacturer TATRAVAGÓNKA has led MODALIS to launch the Sggmrss 92′ wagon, an innovative intermodal wagon capable of travelling at 140 km per hour, with a potential speed of 160 km per hour. Complying with Technical Specifications for Interoperability, the wagon’s ergonomic features allow for the transportation of various loads.

It was presented at the 2023 Transport Logistic Show in Munich and will be available for rent from January 2024.

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