2. Key statistics on rail freight transport in France

2.1 Traffic and its trends

Rail freight transport in France has undergone significant changes since its inception.

The first freight train carried coal from Saint-Étienne to Andrézieux in 1827; it was pulled by horses.

Freight volumes then naturally skyrocketed as the network expanded and the industry boomed.

Setting aside global conflicts, growth continued through the 1960s and 1970s, peaking around 1970, before beginning a significant decline, as shown in the table at 4 .