CMA RAIL, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMA CGM, will become the management holding company of the French line’s worldwide rail operations in Europe, India, China and North Africa from October.

Its Rail Link Europe subsidiary reaches over 20 destinations throughout Europe offering regular, direct train service several times weekly between Europe’s major seaports and centres of economic activity, including Marseilles, Le Havre, Paris, Lyon, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge and Ludwigshafen/Mannheim.

CMA CGM has launched three new private rail shuttles deployed on the following routes: Dourges-Zeebrugge – three rotations a week; Lyon-Fos – three rotations a week; and Le Havre-Bonneuil with two rotations a week

These new routes follow last June’s launch of a new service between Le Havre, Dourges and Mannheim. In December, CMA CGM plans to increase rotation frequency on existing services.

Alain Wils, general manager of CMA CGM and president of the rail division, said 2007 was a pivotal year for the carrier in terms of establishing and developing its rail freight operations.

“Our European freight carrying capacity doubled between January and June following our partnership with Veolia, and we have already reached a 98 percent reliability rate on the Marseilles-Ludwigshafen route,” he said.

“On the international front, we have signed agreements with the Chinese rail freight subsidiary and with Algeria’s national transport company.

“We are also in discussions with the Moroccan railway system and with local operators in India. CMA CGM’s decision to launch CMA RAIL highlights its role as a global service provider to its maritime customers.”

The growth of CMA CGM’s operations in the rail freight sector is evidence of the Group’s commitment to providing a comprehensive door-to-door service to its customers.