(AOF) – Getlink is modernizing its fleet of Euro4000 locomotives by investing in ETCS (European Train Control System) technology. Europorte is the first French rail freight company to equip 10 Euro4000 locomotives with this innovative rail signaling technology which will promote the growth of its international business. To carry out this project, Europorte and Beacon commissioned the Belgian company Transurb, which specializes in the integration of railway signaling technologies.
Through this investment of 8.5 million euros, co-financed at 60% by its long-standing partner Beacon Rail and subject to subsidies from the European Commission, Europorte is ensuring a place of choice in the developments of French industry and international and cross-border traffic, in particular towards Belgium and Germany, France’s leading trading partner, the company assures in a press release.
By equipping its locomotives with ETCS technology, which will promote modal shift at European level over long distances, Europorte is not only fully in line with the policy of greening the European supply chain, but also provides a concrete response to manufacturers facing shortage of truck drivers.
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Key points
– Rail carrier operator of the cross-Channel line under concession until 2086, providing 70% of Channel crossings by car and 40% by truck, diversified in rail freight and logistics under the Europorte brand and the electrical interconnection under the Eleclink brand;
– Group turnover of €774 million organized into 3 branches: Fixed Link for the Channel concession (88% of revenues), Europorte for rail freight (12%) and Eleclink, future electrical interconnection between France and the Britain ;
– Business model based on the recurrence of results by: the generation of additional turnover in the Cross-Channel link for a minor marginal cost, the infrastructures having already been completed and profitability constantly increasing for 13 years / complementarity with the rail freight in France and Eleclink;
– Open capital (5.03% for Eiffage, behind Atlantia with 15.5% and TCI with 14%), Yann Leriche being managing director and Jacques Gounon chairman of the 15-member board of directors;
– Debt still high at €4.1 billion but €718 million in available cash, i.e. more than 3 times the annual debt service, with a term of 18 years
Challenges
– “Ambitions 2022” strategy with confirmed objectives of an operating profit of €735 million and an annual increase of €0.05 in the dividend;
– Innovation strategy reinforced by the creation of the “engineering and projects” department and based on 2 pillars: data analysis to optimize predictive maintenance and equipment / a global platform ensuring collection, visualization, prediction and cybersecurity. .;
– Environmental strategy with 3 challenges -energy transition & climate, preservation of natural environments and waste & circular economy-, 6 commitments and 12 results indicators: 30% reduction in direct emissions in 2025 (vs 2019) and carbon neutrality in 2050 , with an intermediate target of -15% in 2023 / soon 100% energy consumption without CO2 emissions,
/ after the creation of 37 natural hectares, improvement of air quality and objective of reducing the use of drinking water by 10% / towards 3 partnerships or service offers in the circular economy: issuance of green bonds to finance Eleclink;
– In mid-2022, marketing of the Eleclink project for the transfer of electricity via the tunnel;
– Resumption of the dynamics of the service contracts of Montbéliard on the PSA site, of infrastructure works in Bordeaux and in New Aquitaine, of the Socorail ITE contract at Lafarge la Couronne.
Waste management with high stakes
350 million tons of waste are generated annually in France. If 66% is recycled, the rates vary according to the nature of the waste. Thus only 21% of plastics are. In order to strengthen the circular economy, the State massively supports R&D within the framework of the 3R strategy (“Recyclability, Recycling and Reincorporation of materials”). An envelope of 370 million euros will be devoted to it. Regarding hazardous waste, this activity is very profitable. In France, storage and processing capacities are stretched compared to annual needs.