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On the motorway front, in the towns of Calais and Marck-en-Calaisis, a major motorway rail terminal is currently being built. Some 1,300 meters of joint railway lines will be operational in spring 2021. The transport service provider Cargobeamer is deploying and marketing in Europe an innovative rail motorway system suitable for non-gripping semi-trailers. Owner of land within the Zac Transmarck-Turquerie * in Calais since 2018, he entrusted Eiffage, the site's representative, with the creation of a 5.7 ha rail motorway terminal. This site will link Calais to European logistics and industrial centers, making this hub a real alternative to road freight transport.

This 32 M € project and a projected duration of 9 months began in July 2020 with the implementation of basic infrastructure. “We are currently building a platform 550 m long, focused on heavy goods traffic. This site will house a 150-space car park in the south, dedicated to the temporary storage of semi-trailers. It will also accommodate 4 rail tracks from 300 to 450 m, two of which will transfer the trailers to the wagons (and vice versa, as well as various switching equipment. Two other shunting tracks will be used for the composition of the trains ", indicates Simon Findinier. , works engineer for the Eiffage group. Initially, the tracks will be equipped with 6 automated transshipment modules and a telescopic crane handling area. 12 additional modules will complete this set when the terminal has reached its cruising speed . Ultimately, the terminal will reach its optimal functioning in 2023, with its 18 automated transshipment modules. It will be able to load a complete train in 20 minutes. In addition, a building project of 250 m2, dedicated to the operation of the site (offices, control and rest rooms), which will be built quickly in parallel, since it should be operational by spring. ot is currently in preparation.

Thus, CargoBeamer technology ensures the establishment of efficient rail motorway services that are competitive with respect to road transport, while reducing environmental impacts. It is based on a combination of specialized railway wagons, automated transshipment terminals and IT solutions. Its horizontal handling system allows the loading of all types of semi-trailers (including those that are not gripping). The combined transport of these semi-trailers which, to date, did not have access to this type of service is now possible. The transshipment of semi-trailers takes place simultaneously, quickly and silently.

* The ZAC Transmarck-Turquerie is an area of ​​220 ha, dedicated to transport and logistics activities.