Europorte is a European rail freight company, a subsidiary of Eurotunnel; operating in France and through the Channel Tunnel.
The company was formed in 2009 as an entity encompassing the previous operations of Europorte 2 and the France based businesses of Veolia Cargo. Eurotunnel's original freight business, Europorte 2, was rebranded to become Europorte Channel and moved as a subsidiary under the Europorte division of the Eurotunnel group.[2][3]
Subsidiaries
As of December 2009[update] Europorte had five subsidiaries; one previously under Eurotunnel's control and four operations arriving via the purchase of Veolia Cargo french subsidiaries in 2009. All of these five units had already held permissions as open-access operators on the French railway network since 2004.[note 2]
During 2008 the operation had operated 2718 trains in France and 878 trains through the Channel Tunnel. Its fleet in 2009 consisted of eleven British Rail Class 92 locomotives, and one Alstom Prima electric locomotive.[note 3] In December 2008 Europorte 2 was renamed to Europorte Channel, following the acquisition of Veolia Cargo France.[3]
Europorte France
Europorte France (formerly Veolia Cargo France)[3] was acquired in 2009. Including those in use with "Europorte Link", the subsidiary has 28 locomotives and operated over 100 trains per week, with a 162 employees combined.[note 4]
Europorte Proximité
Europorte Proximité constitutes part of the former CFTA Cargo[3] operation, acquired through the purchase of Veolia Cargo France in 2009. The company operates freight trains on the former CFTA Franche-Comté network, a group of secondary lines in France, well known for being the last place in France where a commercial steam train ran (in 1975). The present network is in two parts, based on Châtillon sur Seine (Côte D'Or) and Gray (Haute Saône) the section of line connecting the two having been out of use for some years. The company operates the former CFTA workshops at Gray, well known for maintaining preserved steam locomotives as well as operational diesel locomotives. It also has a track maintenance arm.
[note 5]
Europorte Link
Europorte Link (formerly Veolia Cargo Link[3]) was acquired as part of the Veolia Cargo France purchase in 2009. Together with Europorte France the subsidiary has 28 locomotives and operated over 100 trains per week, with a 162 employees combined.[note 4]
Socorail
Socorail was acquired as part of Veolia Cargo France in 2009. Socorail provides services on industrial railway sidings, and operates 61 shunting locomotives.[note 6]
In May 2010, First Group put their freight division First GB Railfreight (GBRf) up for sale. Eurotunnel, SNCF and Freightliner Group were reported as being interested in the company.[4] The company was acquired by Europorte on 1 June 2010 for £31 million.[5][6] Following the acquisition by Europorte, The company reverted back to its original name of GB Railfreight.
