Short line projects start to take off

A handful of operators has succeeded in launching rail freight services in France. The basic idea of an Operateur Ferroviaire Portuaire (OFP) (port rail operator) is to encourage the establishment of local operators to handle rail freight on lightly-used routes where SNCF (France's national state-owned railway company) could not make its service pay. They would be small and flexible in business structure with staff able to carry out multiple tasks, rending their rail services competitive with road. Several OFPs have entered the scene with more expected in the future, with expected challenges and issues they will face presented here.