Located on the Rhine, Strasbourg’s port—the second-largest inland port in France—intends to allocate up to €70 million for this rail expansion. This forms part of a broader €200 million investment plan over the next 10 years. The rail terminal will be the first major project under this programme, with the initial phase of construction scheduled between 2026 and 2027.
With the new terminal, the volume of cargo transported by rail to and from the port is expected to rise to 2 million tonnes, up from the current 1 million, within the next decade.
An additional €25 million will be invested in developing infrastructure at the tri-modal terminal in nearby Lauterbourg, also on the Rhine.
According to the port authority, these investments aim to support the region’s reindustrialisation efforts while simultaneously reducing its carbon footprint. The rail terminal is designed to encourage shippers to opt for more environmentally sustainable modes of transport, such as rail and inland waterways.
In recent years, the Rhine ports have faced recurring summer droughts, which have led to significant reductions in river traffic.
In 2023, the Port of Strasbourg handled 6.2 million tonnes of cargo via the river (mainly construction materials and cereals), representing a 2.5 per cent year-on-year decline. An additional 1 million tonnes of cargo was transported by rail, which saw a sharper decline of 20 per cent compared to the previous year. The decline was attributed to a strike on the French railways as well as rising energy costs.