1. SNCF freight branch

Rail freight transport in France can still be examined through the eyes of the SNCF alone, even if new operators (Veolia Environnement or EWSR) have appeared on the scene.

The SNCF Group has consolidated sales of €22,059 million (in 2004). It is structured around four branches, including the Freight Branch, which weighs in at €6,393 million, i.e. more than the sales of each of the SNCF group's three other branches: Voyageurs France Europe, Public Transport and Infrastructure.

Within the Freight Division, however, the weight of the Géodis group needs to be subtracted to gain an overview of the dimensions of full-load transport by rail: 3 billion euros. This is shared between the Freight Division, which is part of the SNCF public establishment itself for rail transport, and SNCF subsidiaries in related businesses, in particular logistics and...