The split of Fret SNCF, agreed in May 2023 between the European Commission (EC) and the French government to address EC concerns over €5.3 billion of illegal state aid granted to Fret SNCF between 2005 and 2019, will be implemented on 1 January 2025 with the creation of two new companies.
- Hexafret: will become the national rail freight operator with 4,000 employees.
- Technis: will have 500 employees and will be responsible for locomotive maintenance, not only for SNCF but also for other operators and leasing companies.
Charles Puech d’Alissac, currently CEO of Fret SNCF, will head Hexafret, while Tristan Rouzes, formerly director of performance and transformation at SNCF’s Rail Logistics Europe subsidiary,
will head Technis.
Hexafret and Technis will both be subsidiaries of Rail Logistics Europe
The two new companies will be part of the Rail Logistics Europe group, a subsidiary of SNCF, which also includes Captrain, Forwardis, VIIA, Naviland Cargo and the current Fret SNCF.
SNCF expects Rail Logistics Europe to reach a turnover of €1.9bn next year, up from €1.5bn achieved in 2020.
As part of the deal, Fret SNCF has had to reduce its workforce by 500 people, transferring them to other areas of SNCF, and divest 23 services to competitors, representing 23% of its annual turnover and 30% of its traffic.
Although Rail Logistics Europe will have SNCF as its majority shareholder, the French group has agreed to private investors acquiring stakes in the company.