EUROPE: SNCB Logistics’ intermodal subsidiary IFB announced on January 21 that it was expanding its operations to the south of Europe in conjunction with partners in France, Spain and Italy.
On February 1 IFB will open a new intermodal terminal at Bonneuil-sur-Marne, to the south of Paris. With two sidings and reach stackers offering a potential throughput of 36 000 TEUs a year, the terminal will be served by IFB’s existing trains between Belgium and Spain, enabling the operator to compete for traffic on both legs. As well as road-rail transfers, the terminal provides the potential for IFB to launch barge services on the river Marne.
As part of its strategy to serve the Paris region, IFB is establishing a new subsidiary, IFB France, which will have a dedicated commercial team based at Bonneuil-sur-Marne. The operator has also started a ‘close commercial collaboration’ with IC Iberica to boost its representiation in Spain. According to IFB General Manager Paul Wouters, there is growing demand for regular movements between Antwerpen and Paris as well as traffic to and from Spain.
In March IFB plans to expand its operations between Belgium and Italy, with the launch of a domestic feeder service linking Milano Segrato and the Pomezia terminal in Roma. Aimed at domestic traffic as well as feeding the intermodal gateway service, the new service is being developed as a partnership between IFB Italy and the Italian logistics group Interporto Campano.
