6. Conclusion

To meet the growing needs for goods transport in a Europe on the move, it is essential to use alternative modes of transport to the "all-road" system.

After a number of difficult years, caused by internal restructuring and difficulties in adapting to changing shipper requirements, rail is set to play an important role once again.

The historic railroads, conceived on the basis of national monopolies, will face competition from new operators and will compete with themselves. They must therefore evolve profoundly if they are not to disappear.

SNCF is determined to meet the challenge of controlled growth in rail freight. The challenge is commercial, industrial, technical, environmental and societal in nature. The SNCF is mobilizing to adapt its offer and improve the competitiveness of its services in its core business:...