On January 1, 2025, the French railway company SNCF Fret will cease to exist in its current form, splitting into two distinct and independent entities: Hexafret, specializing in freight transport, and Technis, dedicated to rolling stock maintenance. This division, which will result in the loss of 500 jobs, is part of a negotiation between the French government and the European Commission to avoid the complete liquidation of SNCF Fret, which can no longer receive public funding to cover its losses. SNCF has assured that the displaced workers will be relocated to other companies within the Group.
SNCF Fret currently handles about half of France's rail freight transport, generating an annual revenue of approximately 700 million euros. Hexafret is expected to operate 1,100 trains per week, serving 1,300 locations across France and Europe. Compared to SNCF Fret, the new company will lose thirty percent of its traffic and twenty percent of its revenue to private operators. The unions, however, are not in favor of this split and have requested a meeting with SNCF leadership, threatening to go on strike. They are demanding a moratorium on the split and a resumption of negotiations with the European Commission.
