The Ulysse Fret report recommends investing €4bn over 10 years to upgrade and expand rail freight in France. Released on 20 March 2025, it is part of the country’s National Strategy for the Development of Rail Freight, headed up by the Ministry of Transport’s Directorate General for Infrastructure, Transport and Mobility. The document was produced in collaboration with SNCF Réseau (infrastructure manager) and Alliance 4F, a French industry body for rail freight operators and shippers. It sees rail freight as vital to the green transition for industry and a driving force for regional development.

The Ulysse Fret report calls for:

• Upgrades to existing infrastructure, with a focus on preserving and improving secondary lines that are crucial for regional Connectivity
• A modern freight rail network with expanded capacity and larger loading gauges
• More combined transport
• Advanced digital technologies to enhance the customer experience
• Long-term planning and gradual roll-out through to 2032.

While the Ulysse Fret report is described as “an ambitious roadmap” by Alliance 4F—of which both Rail Logistics Europe and SNCF Réseau are members—it is merely “a starting point”, say sector stakeholders, who are “ready to turn these recommendations into concrete, sustainable changes.”