Brittany Ferries has today launched a major new freight initiative that strengthens connections between Ireland and Spain, while taking significant steps to cut road traffic, reduce emissions and support driver-free logistics.
The company has inaugurated a 970km rail freight service from Cherbourg on France’s north-west coast to Bayonne near the French–Spanish border. This new ro-ro-rail service allows Irish logistics operators to send trailer-only freight by sea from Rosslare to Cherbourg, where trailers transfer seamlessly onto a dedicated overnight train to Bayonne, without the need for an accompanying driver.
The service offers a cleaner, more efficient alternative to road haulage across France. Trailers are loaded in Rosslare and shipped to Cherbourg by Brittany Ferries. Once in France, they are transferred by tug to MODALOHR’s state-of-the-art double-ladle wagons, which allow for smooth and rapid loading onto rail. The pivoting wagons ensure trailers are safely stowed before heading south by train.
At the end of the rail leg in Bayonne, trailers are collected and delivered onwards across Spain or southern France, or the process is reversed for goods travelling from Spain to Ireland.
The ro-ro-rail concept is an innovative response to a sharp rise in demand for driverless trailer transport. It also supports Brittany Ferries’ commitment to cutting CO₂ emissions and congestion on France’s road network. The company estimates that each trailer carried by rail instead of road saves around one tonne of CO₂. Additionally, rail avoids traffic delays, reduces vehicle wear and tear, and helps tackle the ongoing international driver shortage.
The service runs with two dedicated trainsets, each capable of carrying up to 36 trailers, and currently operates four return services per week. By the end of 2025, Brittany Ferries expects to increase this to five weekly rotations, rising to daily service by 2026.
“We’ve seen growing demand from Irish hauliers looking to cut costs, reduce emissions and overcome driver shortages,” said Frédéric Pouget, Brittany Ferries director of ports and operations. “By connecting our Ireland–France ferry routes with this new freight rail line, we’re offering a fast, reliable and sustainable logistics solution to the Iberian Peninsula.”
The first trains have already carried goods such as foodstuffs, car parts, and textiles destined for Ireland. Brittany Ferries sees the rail link as a key part of its long-term strategy to expand its multi-modal freight offering across western Europe.
Irish hauliers and freight operators can now book trailer-only freight on the Cherbourg–Bayonne service via Brittany Ferries’ dedicated freight team:
Ireland & UK: +44 (0)330 159 5000
freight.bookings@brittanyferries.com
