CFL Announces New Intermodal Rail Connection Linking South of France to Poland

On Tuesday 7 March 2023, CFL multimodal and KLOG Logistics Solutions announced the launch of a new intermodal connection between Sète (in the south of France, near Montpellier) and Poznań in Poland; at over 2,000 km in distance, this is one of the five longest intermodal rail connections in Europe.

Following the successful partnership with KLOG Logistics Solutions for its regular trains between the intermodal terminal of Bettembourg-Dudelange and the CLIP Group terminal in Poznań, CFL multimodal has launched a new intermodal train between Sète and Poznań in October 2022. With one round trip per week this connection ensures the supply of home-furnishing products for IKEA on the Spanish market and fashion garments for Inditex, owner of brands such as Zara, Bershka and Massimo Dutti, in Poznań where the Spanish company has its warehouse for online orders in central Europe. As main traction provider, CFL cargo covers more than 2,000 km between VIIA-Sète terminal and Poznań without stopping at terminals on the way. Captrain Polska takes over the traction in Poland.

This new train connection transports up to 38 trailers of IKEA and Inditex products on each train.

In addition, the T3000 wagons for P400 trailers enable multimodal flexibility and facilitate fast loading, connecting the Spanish and Polish markets seamlessly in just 48 hours while saving more than 12,000 tons of carbon emissions per year. As intermodal transport solutions have a reduced environmental impact and significantly lower external costs, compared to other modes of transport, this collaboration is a key element for a sustainable future.

Sven Löffler, Chief Commercial Officer CFL multimodal, stated: “We are delighted to be working continuously with KLOG, together with IKEA and Inditex, on sustainable developments, shifting the delivery of goods from road to rail, and thus, reducing carbon emissions. For instance, we are currently evaluating the potential expansion of this new connection with more door-to-door solutions and thus a strengthening of this collaboration on future endeavours.”

Egídio Lopes, Managing Director, KLOG, said: “We are proud to join these highly recognised companies in the market. This new intermodal connection between Sète-Poznań, now possible thanks to the CFL multimodal partnership, promote KLOG's vision on rail connections as a more sustainable solution for the transport of goods.”

Abel López Cernadas, Head of Import, Export and Transport Inditex, stated: “This joint project is a good example of how we understand the commitment to reduce our environmental impact, boosting collaborative solutions with suitable partners to enhance the achieved scope. This specific development of inland logistics enables us to move towards our decarbonisation goal, while keeping the agility and flexibility that features our business model.”

Dariusz Mroczek, Category Area Transport Manager, IKEA Supply Chain Operations, said: "One of the key priorities for us at IKEA is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from each product transport by an average of 70% by 2030 compared to 2017. To achieve this goal, we must work with partners to collectively transform the transport industry. One way is to use rail transport to increase the share of intermodal solutions that leads to fewer trucks on the roads, reducing traffic congestion, air pollution, and carbon dioxide emissions while creating opportunities for an improved work-life balance for drivers."