OFP day of November 20, 2019

After the new railway pact, the LOM, the 4th package, "the ecological emergency"...

RAIL FREIGHT, quits or doubles??

Our ninth Rail Freight and OFP Day was held in front of an influx of more than 350 attentive participants, while the implementation of a profoundly modified legislative and economic framework is finally coming to an end; but will the State and the profession together be able to define a concrete action plan so that the railway, at the service of its customers, contributes fully to territorial and national development that respects the environment and is economically efficient?
A first session, in the morning, brought together representatives of shippers, railway companies, public and private, the State, to discuss the current situation, the prospects and the objectives to be defined in consultation between the profession and the State within the framework of the rail freight strategy called for by the LOM voted on 19/11/2019.
The second session in the afternoon presented innovations in different fields, which prepare the rail freight of tomorrow.
You will find below the program of the day and four articles by presenting the stakes, the context and the analysis of the debates of Olivier Constant (Actu Transport), files in support of the topics approached (Laurent Charlier LLF), and the conclusions of Gilles Dansart in his Mobitelex...Good reading

Links to logistics transport news: The situation remains mixed

Links to news-transport logistics: a national strategy is being put in place

Introduction to our day

The screen shows the audience the current situation of the 12 OFPs, which handle 10% of rail freight
Jacques Chauvineau welcomed the participants, noting that their interest in rail freight, and the attention aroused by our debates clearly show the birth of a "new rail community", guaranteeing a renewed approach to the blockages that prevent the essential restart of rail freight.
He introduced to the audience Jean-Marc Zulési, Deputy of the Bouches du Rhône, member of the Commission for Sustainable Development and author of several amendments to the Mobility Orientation Law (LOM), including in particular the one that makes the State to establish and present to Parliament a plan promoting modal shift, particularly towards rail.
Jean-Marc Zulési recalls his conviction of the importance of developing a rail component in the transport of goods in order to contribute to the defense of the environment; this position reiterated recently during the budget debates on the taxation of fuels has earned him criticism! In the Mobility Orientation Law, he obtained by amendment that (Article 51) be stated the obligation for the State to prepare and present to Parliament a strategic plan in favor of rail freight. But he notes that if the profession does not seize this opportunity to contribute to the preparation of this strategy, the result is not guaranteed.
Next comes Alexis Degouy, General Delegate of TLF (founding member of Objectif OFP), who presents the Hémar report on logistics strategy and explains the need for an efficient rail component in the logistics chains of the future. This presentation is also interesting for the description of the system being set up with the entire logistics profession to develop in detail the measures for applying the strategy.

Summary and conclusions

At the end of this Day rich in presentations and exchanges, Jacques Chauvineau summarizes the key ideas that emerge from it, and highlights the emergence of the need for "green logistics", the role that a rail freight component can play in it, and the levers to achieve it.

Alexis Vuillemin, Directorector of the transport services of the DGITM, concluded the Day on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, Jean-Baptiste Djébbari. Recalling the Government's objectives for the development of modes that respect the environment, he notes that the OFPs have imposed themselves alongside other players, and contribute to modal shift and regional planning. It puts into perspective the existing or future strategies (port, logistics and soon rail), the relationship with the LOM and the State – SNCF Réseau contract, and the question of innovation.

And with the approval of the audience he gives an appointment for the tenth edition of the Rail Freight Day and OFP in 2020