On July 17, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot, alongside regional and industry leaders, officially inaugurated the new rail-road (ferroutage) terminal at the Port of Cherbourg. The €11.2 million project establishes a new multimodal freight corridor between Cherbourg and Mouguerre (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), connecting Spain with the UK and Ireland by rail and sea.
Strategically positioned, Cherbourg handled nearly 92,000 trailers in 2024—over 84,000 of which were bound to or from Ireland. The port has become a critical hub for trade with the British Isles since Brexit, and this new terminal enhances its role by offering a lower-emission alternative to long-haul road transport.
The new terminal, just 1 km from ferry ramps, uses LOHR technology to accommodate 750-metre trains and simultaneously load or unload 12 trailers. It received its first train in May 2025 and will ramp up to six weekly round-trips by September, with Brittany Ferries targeting 320 annual round-trips by 2030.
Operated by BAI Rail, a Brittany Ferries subsidiary, the service will transport unaccompanied trailers between Mouguerre and Cherbourg. BAI Rail has invested in 47 dedicated wagons and a new terminal in southwestern France.
The terminal’s launch reflects a broader push by France and the EU toward greener freight solutions. It’s expected to shift up to 25,000 trailers annually from road to rail and sea, significantly cutting CO₂ emissions.
“This terminal marks a turning point for low-carbon logistics,” said Hervé Morin, President of Ports de Normandie. “It strengthens Cherbourg’s position as a strategic freight hub while supporting Europe’s ecological transition.”
