Ville, Rail & Transports : Why has the FIF accepted to co-sign this text ?

Jean-Pierre Audoux : The trade strongly believes in the future of shortline operators (OFP) in France . Remember that FIF introduced this topic during discussions within the freight operating committee at the Grenelle Green Summit. It is also a member of the OFP Support Cell set-up by Transport Secretary of State Dominique Bussereau and led by Jacques Chauvineau.

Ville, Rail & Transports : This plea in favour of OFPs contrasts somewhat with the pessimistic stance taken by SNCF and particularly by Paul Blayau.  Could this be construed as a disagreement with, even a rejection of his arguments on the future of rail freight ?

Jean-Pierre Audoux : Not really, and for two reasons : firstly because the business model and the very function of OFPs are complementary and non-redundant…in other words OFPs are not in competition with the SNCF long-distance freight sector. Next, the experience feedback now coming from OFPs in Europe (Germany, Sweden……) not to mention North America shows that the development of shortliners  can help rekindle the activities of the major freight operators but conversely that no development is possible without the cooperation of these major operators. Moreover Paul Blayau made plain in his interview with the Le Figaro daily on 25 June last that he was keen to support « the OFPs because of their greater responsiveness and flexibility ».

Ville, Rail & Transports : What then is the missing ingredient preventing the OFP concept from really taking-off?

Jean-Pierre Audoux : Two things are missing primarily, bearing in mind that  the prevailing crisis context is obviously more of a drawback than a favourable development. Firstly we need to have at our disposal paedagogical tools and instruments appropriate to the concept. Next, a statutory and regulatory framework is essential for  the OFPs to be able to conduct their business in pertinent economic conditions. This business model is consequently viable only if it can be underpinned by access costs and benchmarks that are pertinent to small and medium-size companies and industries. We can reasonably hope that this issue will rapidly be solved over the coming six months, especially as the local road-haulage and supply-chain operators are actively engaged  in the setting-up of OFPs in different Regions.