DB Cargo France
Founded2005
Headquarters
Paris
,
France
Revenue€ 146 million (2018)
Number of employees
900 (2018)
ParentDB Cargo
Websitefr.dbcargo.com/rail-fr-fr

DB Cargo France is a French rail freight operator. It is presently a subsidiary of the German state-owned logistics company DB Cargo.

DB Cargo France was originally established as Euro Cargo Rail (ECR) in early 2005 by the British freight company English Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS). The company had sought to expand its footprint in the continental European rail freight market; while one of its subsidiaries, EWS International, operated the trains, ECR was responsible for marketing and trading duties. EWS's application to operate open-access freight services in France was approved in November 2005, permitting the commencement of services in May 2006. Initially, operations were focused upon France's northern region and its borderlands; however, ECR had grand ambitions to expand across Europe, filing applications to operate in both Belgium and Germany during 2006.

During June 2007, EWS and ECR were both acquired by the German state railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB). By the following year, ECR had become the second largest rail freight company in France, after the traditional market leading state-owned operator SNCF. During October 2010, ECR formed a joint venture with the Port of La Rochelle, named OFP La Rochelle; seven years later, ECR sold its stake in the venture. While early rolling stock was typically leased, or transferred from EWS, the company was quickly able to place its own sizable orders for new-build locomotives, such as the TRAXX F140 MS and the EMD Series 66, although many of these deliveries would be received by DB Cargo rather than ECR itself. During May 2017, DB invested $150 million to recapitalise and restructure the company, resulting in the loss of one quarter of its staff. In late 2021, the company was rebranded as DB Cargo France.

History

During January 2005, it was announced that English Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS) had lodged an application for an operating licence to operate open-access freight services in France.[1] At the time, EWS International, a subsidiary of EWS focused on continental European operations, was intended to actually operate the trains, while a newly created entity, Euro Cargo Rail (ECR), was established to perform the marketing and trading of these rail services.[2] It was envisaged that initial operations would be focused upon northern France, specifically on those routes that ran close to or across the national borders of France. Furthermore, the company promoted itself as working to increase the amount of rail freight within France by pursuing operations that would be economically viable in comparison to road transportation.[2]

In November 2005, EWS' application was approved and a safety certificate was granted by the French Minister for Transport; this outcome meant that ECR had become only the third freight operator in the country at that time.[2] At the time, the commencement of freight services had been anticipated to occur sometime in that same winter.[3][4] In actuality, ECR would not run any services until May 2006.[5] In July 2006, it was announced that ECR had, as part of its ambitions to expand across western Europe, filed applications to operate freight services in neighbouring Belgium and Germany.[6]

On 28 June 2007, EWS was wholly acquired by the German state railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB) in a deal that included ECR.[7] On 7 November 2007, the European Commission (EC) issued its conditional approval of DB's takeover of EWS and ECR.[8]

By 2008, ECR had become the second largest rail freight company in France, after the traditional market leading state-owned operator SNCF, holding a 5.3% market share.[9] By 2010, the company's market share was estimated to have increased to 8%.[10] That same year, a major dispute between DB and SNCF over access to France's railways had escalated to the level of government ministers in both countries intervening.[11] Two years prior, ECR had been denied the train paths needed to operate aggregates trains on behalf of Lafarge on account of SNCF having booked all of the available paths.[12] In December 2012, SNCF was fined €60.9m for exercising anti-competitive measures that sought to block open-access operators from using certain resources, such as renting wagons or using train paths, thus forcing them to use less optimal alternatives or to not run certain services at all.[12]

During the summer of 2010, ECR became involved in the new French fright company OFP La Rochelle, which was structured as a joint venture between the company and the Port of La Rochelle.[13][14] ECR held a 24.9% minority stake, while the port authorities held a 75.1% majority stake. In May 2017, it was announced that ECR had sold its stake in the venture, which continued to operate using new partners.[15]

Starting in 2010, ECR participated in the Sustainable Iron and Steel Transport by European Railways project, which provided a door-to-door logistics service via two multi-client services ran per week between Turin, Italy and Sagunto, Spain, along with another two trains between Monza and Irun, via a newly opened cross-border link between Figueras and Perpignan. Specifically, ECR operated these freight trains while they were traversing the French rail network.[16]

During May 2017, following ECR's recorded loss of €25.5 million, DB Cargo invested €150 million into the business with the aim of recapitalising and stabilising the company's operations within the space of one year; other measures were taken, including a restructuring that led to the loss of 300 jobs, which was roughly one quarter of ECR's workforce.[17]

In June 2020, the company became a member of a new coalition of organisations across France’s rail freight sector, French Rail Freight of the Future, which sought to double the volume of rail freight in the nation by 2030.[18] During late 2021, ECR was rebranded as DB Cargo France, bringing its identity into line with that of its corporate parent.[19]

Rolling stock

ECR's initial operations were carried out using a small leased fleet of four Vossloh G1206 diesel locomotives; the maintenance of these locomotives was carried out at EWS's Dollands Moor Freight Yard in England, thus the locomotives were given a TOPS classification number, Class 21.[20][21]

Between 2007 and 2009, the company also acquired several Vossloh G1000 BB locomotives,[22] and briefly leased three TRAXX F140 AC locomotives from Mitsui Rail Capital (MRCE) during 2007;[23] these were returned to the leaser in August 2008.[24]

In 2008-2009, ECR also opted to lease around ten Vossloh G2000 locomotives and five Vossloh Euro 4000 locomotives (1668mm gauge) from Angel Trains Cargo.[23][25]

During 2008, a pair of TRAXX F140 MS locomotives operating in ECR livery were used for homologation of the type in France and Belgium; type certification was obtained in July 2009. The two locomotives formed part of an order of 20 units delivery between 2009 and 2010. In 2009, an additional 45 units were ordered, which were divided between DB Schenker (25 units) and ECR (20 units); these were delivered from 2010 onwards.[26]

In January 2006, the first Class 66 was transferred from EWS to ECR; by November 2007, fifty locomotives had been transferred.[27][28] During late 2007, the first of an order for 60 new EMD Series 66 locomotives were delivered.[29][30][31] as the Class 77 from 77001 to 77060.[32] However, only half of the order was ultimately delivered to ECR, while the balance was instead delivered to the parent company DB Cargo in Germany. Furthermore, all of ECR's Class 66s were gradually transferred to Germany, the last five locomotives being transferred during 2019.[33]

In April 2009, a pair of Class 08 shunters were sent to France from England.[34]

Starting in 2010, the company began leasing Alstom Prima electric locomotives (sub types BB 27000, and BB 37000 dual and triple voltage) from Akiem.[35][36] The company also began hiring SNCF Y8000 type shunters from Akiem in the same year.[37]

By 2018, ECR reportedly operated 151 locomotives.[38]

See also

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "EWS seeking open access licence to work in France". The Railway Magazine. No. 1245. January 2005. p. 11.
    2. 1 2 3 "Euro Cargo Rail third rail freight operator in France". Infrasite.net. 4 November 2005. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011.
    3. ↑ "EWS wins French approval - trains will start this winter". Rail. No. 526. 9 November 2005. p. 8.
    4. ↑ "Euro Cargo Rail to begin in December". Railways Illustrated. No. 35. January 2006. p. 16.
    5. ↑ "ECR starts French contract". Rail. No. 540. 24 May 2006. p. 9.
    6. ↑ "Euro Cargo Rail expands across Europe". Rail. No. 543. 5 July 2006. p. 10.
    7. ↑ "Deutsche Bahn plans takeover of EWS and Transfesa". Deutsche Bahn. 28 June 2007. Archived from the original on 5 July 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
    8. ↑ "DB's takeover of EWS approved". www.railwaygazette.com. Railway Gazette International. 15 November 2007.
    9. ↑ "Welcome to Euro Cargo Rail". Presentation. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
    10. ↑ Schmitt, Jörg (8 January 2010). "France's SNCF Muscles in on German Rail Market". www.spiegel.de. Der Spiegel.
    11. ↑ "Ministers aim to end French-German row". International Railway Journal. 27 August 2010.
    12. 1 2 Barrow, Keith (18 December 2012). "SNCF fined €60.9m for anti-competitive behaviour". International Railway Journal.
    13. ↑ "News in Brief". www.railwaygazette.com. DVV Media International. 27 October 2010.
    14. ↑ Battais, Luc (31 May 2010). "L'OFP de La Rochelle lâcherait la SNCF". wk-transport-logistique.fr (in French).
    15. ↑ "New partners for port freight operator". Railway Gazette International. 10 May 2017.
    16. ↑ "Freight operators hail Iberia's new gateway to Europe". International Railway Journal. 26 November 2010.
    17. ↑ Williams, Marcus (12 May 2017). "DB Cargo recapitalises French subsidiary Euro Cargo Rail". Automotive Logistics.
    18. ↑ Smith, Kevin. "New French freight coalition targets upsurge in rail freight volumes 9 June 2020". International Railway Journal.
    19. ↑ "Freight World rail freight news round-up". railwaygazette.com. DVV Media International. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
    20. ↑ "TOPS numbers issued for Euro Cargo Rail Vossloh locomotives" (PDF). Railway Herald. 1 (28): 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
    21. ↑ "Second time lucky for Class 21". Rail. No. 533. 15 February 2006. p. 24.
    22. ↑ "Suche : Hersteller : "G 1000" , Lebenslauf : "ECR"" [Search results : Loco type "G 1000", operator "ECR"]. www.loks-aus-kiel.de (in German). Retrieved 1 July 2011.
    23. 1 2 "Search results "ECR"". www.railcolor.net. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
    24. ↑ "ECR Traxx locomotives back from France". www.railcolor.net. 31 August 2008.
    25. ↑ "Suche : Hersteller : "G 2000" , Lebenslauf : "ECR"" [Search results : Loco type "G 2000", operator "ECR"]. www.loks-aus-kiel.de (in German). Retrieved 1 July 2011.
    26. ↑ "ECR / DB E186: introduction". www.railcolor.net. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
    27. ↑ "66215 starts tests in Brttany". Today's Railways UK. No. 51. March 2006. p. 16.
    28. ↑ "EWS / Euro Cargo Rail Class 66 Fleet". Railway Herald (111): 5. 30 November 2007. ISSN 1751-8091.
    29. ↑ "EWS order 60 Class 66s for French freight traffic". Rail. No. 578. 7 November 2007. p. 8.
    30. ↑ "Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. (EMD) Announces French Homologation Has Been Achieved For the Euro Cargo Rail Class 66 Locomotives". www.emdiesels.com (Press release). Electro-Motive Diesel. 6 January 2009.
    31. ↑ "First new Class 66s for Euro Cargo Rail shipped from Canada" (PDF). www.railwayherald.co.uk (106): 3. October 2007. ISSN 1751-8091.
    32. ↑ "Class 66 :: Electro-Motive Diesel JT42CWR". class66.railfan.nl. Class 66 >> Operators >> Euro Cargo Rail. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
    33. ↑ "Last Class 77 to quit France". Today's Railways Europe. No. 283. July 2019. p. 41.
    34. ↑ "Class 08s in France". Today's Railways Europe. No. 162. June 2009. p. 8.
    35. ↑ "More silver Primas for ECR and VFLI". www.railcolor.net. 13 January 2011.
    36. ↑ "Euro Cargo Rail hires Prima locomotives". www.railcolor.net. 18 May 2010.
    37. ↑ "Silver Prima locomotives for ECR". www.railcolor.net. 1 June 2010.
    38. ↑ Euro Cargo Rail In Brief (in French) Archived 3 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine DB Cargo
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