| Formerly | VFLI |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | , France |
| Parent | Rail Logistics Europe |
| Website | www.vfli.fr www.groupe-vfli.com |
Captrain France (French pronunciation:[kaptʁɛ̃fʁɑ̃s]), formerlyVFLI, is a Frenchfreight rail company. It is a subsidiary ofSNCF'sRail Logistics Europe. The company was formed in 1998 as a low-cost short line and industrial railway operator.
VFLI was established in 1998 bySNCF to operate as a low-cost operation.[1] Initially, the company took over the operations of two industrial railway systems:Voies Ferrées des Landes (VFL) and Mines Dominiales de Potasse d'Alsace.[2][3]
In 2000, the company began ajoint venture with Compagnie des chemins de fer départementaux (CFD) namedVoies Ferrées du Morvan to operate the 87 kmAvallon-Autun railway line,[1] and in 2001 took over operations on theHoullières du Bassin de Lorraine (HBL) via a subsidiary 'VFLI Cargo.[1]
Up to 2007, the company was involved in the construction ofLGV Est through the subsidiaryFertis.[3][note 1][5]
In 2007, VFLI was certified to run trains on the full extent of the French national railway network owned byRéseau Ferré de France.[6] By 2008, the company was providing services for around forty industrial sites, with clients having includedRhodia,Arkema,Arcelor,[note 2]Renault andCoke de Carling,[3]Ciments français,Lafarge,Elf,Port Edouard Herriot (Lyon),ALZ,Smurfit SCF in Facture andPSA (inTrnava, Slovakia).[7] Other contracts included transport of combustion waste fromProtires waste processing plant inStrasbourg, work sub-contracted fromSNCF, and transportation from ports.[3]
In January 2021, VFLI was rebranded Captrain France.[8]
As of 2012, VFLI's operations are in four main areas: main rail freight in France; rail freight operations at industrial sites; rail infrastructure train haulage; and short haul operations including port railways.[9]
Main line freight rail accounted in 2011 for nearly two-thirds of VFLI's turnover, representing a turnover of 67.7 million Euros, compared to 5.4 million Euros in 2007.[10]
In 2010, VFLI owned approximately 100 diesel locomotives, mostly shunting and short trip locomotives,[1][11] as well as about 800 wagons.[1]
The company also operates rolling stock workshops, carrying out maintenance and refurbishment.[1]
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