CONNEX has become the first open access rail operator in France. The first trains run by the Connex subsidiary, CFTA Cargo, will be introduced this month carrying lime from the department of Meuse in northeast France to the Saarland region in Germany.
Connex won the five-year contract in an international tender. ICE trains, and market the services. Five trains a day are planned linking Paris with Frankfurt and four a day between Paris and Stuttgart. About 1.5 million passengers a year are expected to use these services, which is about 50% more than today.
SNCF and DB have also agreed to develop their joint subsidiary, RailEuroConcept (REC). In January next year, REC will become responsible for production planning and control, as well as quality assurance for international freight trains linking France and Germany. In a second phase, REC will take over the operation of selected flows of traffic. According to an agreement reached in February, from this month, freight trains will no longer stop at the border to change locomotives or crew, which will save about two hours per train.