SNCF Geodis, a subsidiary of the French SNCF Logistics, has offered to purchase all stakes of the Spanish rail freight company COMSA Rail Transport, a subsidiary of the COMSA EMTE Group. SNCF Geodis currently holds a 25 per cent stake in the company and wants to expand its influence.

The president of the new SNCF´s subsidiary will be Miquel Llevat, former general manager at COMSA. Philippe Bihouix, manager of international rail activities at SNCF Geodis will be the new vice-president, and Pau Filella will remain as the general manager of COMSA Rail Transport.

International operations

SNCF and COMSA have decided to start the international expansion of the Spanish subsidiary in France and Germany through new rail lines between Algeciras, in Southern Spain and Perpignan, in Southern France. SNCF already operates in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy and Romania through its subsidiary Captrain; and in Austria, Switzerland, Russia and Poland through Forwardis. It acquired COMSA´s shares in 2013, after the Spanish government decided to liberalise the rail freight sector in line with EU rules.

COMSA is specialised in the transport of cars and currently holds a ten per cent market share of rail freight transport in Spain, competing with Renfe, which represents seventy per cent of the market and Transfesa, owned by the Deutsche Bahn and holding a 5.5 per cent market share.