Lineas

A partnership with impact! Thanks to the long-standing partnership with Lineas, Heidelberg Materials France is able to implement sustainable and efficient freight transport solutions. Indeed, the carbon footprint of the volume transported by Lineas in 2023 for Heidelberg Materials France was 90% lower than if these volumes had been transported by road. Matthieu Aernouts, Cyril Richard and Anne Grandjean were recently welcomed by Bruno Pillon, Paul Porcheray, Jean-Marc Fabre and the team at Heidelberg Materials France headquarters in Paris, to celebrate this success - with a miniature locomotive, of course! 🚂🎉 In the movie below, Paul, Jean-Marc and Matthieu are happy to share their insights!

Lineas was very proud to participate in the first Brugse Havenjobbeurs yesterday! This event, organized by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Cercle Brugge KSV and Club Brugge, offered job seekers the opportunity to explore the wide range of career possibilities in the port industry. For our local teams, this was a great opportunity to connect directly with future talent and showcase the exciting opportunities available at Lineas. Interested in working in rail freight? Take a look at lineas.net/jobs!

In a recent interview in MVO - The Netherlands Oils and Fats Industry magazine, Lineas takes the spotlight as a leading company in green transport solutions. Christine Vanoppen, Sustainability Manager at Lineas, shares our company’s journey in testing biodiesel blends like HVO and FAME in our locomotives. These sustainable alternatives are important steps toward a greener future: they help us to reduce CO2 emissions while offering eco-friendly options for rail freight on non-electrified tracks. While there are still obstacles in terms of costs and logistics, Lineas remains at the forefront of making rail freight transport even more eco-friendly. Curious to learn more? Read the full article below!

🚆🌟 A big shoutout to our latest group of trainees at Lineas France! Since September 23rd, 12 new talents have joined our 28th training class, diving into the world of rail freight. We wish them every success on this exciting journey! Let's drive the future of rail together! 📷 Damien Pollart

🚀Next week, our team will be in Berlin for the 58th EPCA Annual Meeting! We're looking forward to connect with customers, partners, and prospects over these four days. Whether you want to discuss how we can support you with your current needs or explore new opportunities, we’d love to meet up. Let’s have a chat! See you there!

In the third and final part of our series on the Lineas memorandum, Frederick De Backer highlights two other important topics: 🔎 Infrastructure investment: Underinvestment in rail infrastructure has impacted reliability and reduced its capacity. It is time to prioritize rail freight and ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place for its growth. 🔎 Training for the future: There is a need for regional training centers for train drivers and ground staff, similar to those available for truck drivers and shipping crews. This will help to support and develop the workforce that drives the future of rail freight!

In a recent Trends Canal Z article, our Executive Chairman Bernard Gustin was asked to share his insights on the challenges and future of rail freight. Even though rail is the most eco-friendly and efficient way to transport goods, the sector faces numerous issues, such as infrastructure delays. 💬 “One train removes 50 trucks from the road and emits six times less CO2 than heavy trucks,” says Bernard Gustin. However, disruptions such as unexpected track work in Spain and Germany can shut down routes for weeks, leading to customer dissatisfaction and revenue loss. Despite these obstacles, Bernard Gustin remains optimistic about the future of rail freight and is confident about its potential: “I believe in rail freight. It is the solution. We’re making progress and are in a better position than last year." 🚆 Read the full article to find out more about the realities and opportunities of our industry: https://lnkd.in/ef9m4jjQ

Last Friday, our Executive Chairman, Bernard Gustin, spoke to around 30 participants at the Voka|VeGHO port lunch, hosted at Hopspot.be. In this engaging setting, he talked about how Lineas has advanced in terms of sustainability, efficiency, and digitalization in recent years. Bernard also emphasized the need for a level playing field between all transport modes and the further liberalization of European rail freight to maximize its potential. Thanks to Voka|VeGHO for the invitation!

In the second part of our series, Frederick De Backer, Head of Public Affairs at Lineas, highlights another key topic from our memorandum: the need for a level playing field between rail and road freight. Currently, road freight in Belgium is supported with many millions of euros per year, for example through tax exemptions for diesel, while rail freight receives minimal financial backing. This gap becomes even more pronounced as rail freight has to bear significant costs for essential safety upgrades on its own. We're also advocating for the establishment of training centers for train drivers and ground personnel - similar to the training support available for truck drivers and shipping crews. By addressing these imbalances, we can create a more balanced and sustainable future for rail freight. Let’s drive positive change together! 💪

Rail freight is the future of sustainable transport. A bold claim? At Lineas, we believe it's more than that - it's a necessity. That's why we have set out in a memorandum the key strategies to ensure that rail freight remains competitive. Today, Frederick De Backer, our Head of Public Affairs, shares some important takeaways from this memorandum: 1️⃣ Creating a level playing field across the sector Currently, some of our competitors still receive significant state support, which can create challenges for market competition. We believe in fostering a fair and transparent environment in which there are no distortions. 2️⃣ Encouraging equal access to key facilities While Antwerp’s shunting yard is open to all railway operators, similar access isn't always available in neighboring countries. By promoting reciprocity at these facilities, we can build a more balanced and competitive European rail network. Stay tuned for more insights from our memorandum!