The Rhenus Group is taking over the management of the two French inland ports Vienne Sud and Portes-lès-Valence as part of a new consortium called "Rhône Modal Shift." The concession has been granted by the French state and the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) for a period of 25 years, the logistics service provider announces. The aim is to expand the multimodal transport capacities along the Rhône corridor and to promote the shift of traffic to water and rail.
Structure of the Consortium
The consortium "Rhône Modal Shift" is led by the Rhenus Group with a 51 percent
share. Other members are the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Nord Isère and Drôme, each with 20 percent, and the Société Report Modal with 9 percent. The awarding of the concession is part of a strategy to strengthen the Mediterranean–Rhône–Saône corridor (MeRS), which represents an important connection between the Lyon area and the port of Marseille-Fos.
Handling Figures and Targets
The two ports already serve as relevant logistics platforms today. In 2024, 115,000 tons were handled in Vienne Sud by inland waterway and 127,000 tons by rail. Portes-lès-Valence recorded 80,000 tons by waterway and 171,000 tons
by rail. By 2032, the combined freight volume of the locations is to be doubled.
Investment Program and Infrastructure Measures
To achieve the set goals, a joint investment plan of 80 million euros is planned, which extends across four ports along the Rhône. The program includes infrastructure measures to increase efficiency and better network the port locations.
Multimodal Shift and Road Network Relief
The improved connection to waterways and the rail network is intended to support the shift of transport from trucks to more environmentally friendly modes of transport. According to CNR, up to 120,000 truck trips in
the Rhône Valley could be saved annually. This is intended to relieve the road infrastructure and increase the reliability of freight services.
Participation of Regional Partners
The Chambers of Commerce and Industry bring their local expertise and existing relationships with companies and municipalities into the project. The aim is to better integrate regional economic cycles into international logistics networks and support industrial development along the Rhône corridor.
About Rhenus
The Rhenus Group is an internationally active logistics service provider with annual sales of 8.2 billion euros. The company employs around 41,000 people at 1,330 locations in over 70
