In a demanding rail freight market, Open Modal and Lahaye Global Logistics announced on April 7, 2026, the launch of an unprecedented strategic partnership based on the pooling of their respective rail services.
A concrete response to sector challenges
Convinced that the future of transport lies in new cooperation models, both groups have decided to unite their expertise to optimize capacity and strengthen the competitiveness of their offerings. As Antonin Brunier, President of Open Modal, emphasized during his interview with La Lettre Ferroviaire : « We are in an incredibly difficult market. If we want to grow, we must invent new models that move beyond “600km, point A to point B, without pick-up/drop-off [of wagons] ”. »
An innovative operational setup
The heart of the partnership relies on « pick up and drop-off » shunting system organized in Valenton, a strategic hub in the southeast of Paris where BTM already operates two rail yards. By recomposing trains at this key node, the two operators have increased from three to five weekly rotations and created five distinct daily commercial flows :
- Rennes <> Lille and Rennes <> Vénissieux (Be Modal)
- Lille <> Miramas (T3M)
- Valenton <> Vénissieux and Valenton <> Miramas (complementary flows resulting from the recomposition)
Shunting operations at Valenton are handled by Combirail, which is also responsible for the traction of T3M trains on the North – Île-de-France – south-est axis.
An expanded commercial offer
Since April 27, 2026, this new transport plan has made it possible to accept P400 semi- trailers on the Rennes Lille route, as well as non-cranable semi-trailers through the use of R2L connectors. This is a significant advancement that broadens the range of transportable goods and enhances the service’s attractiveness to shippers.
Encouraging initial results
After the first month of operation, the assessment is positive : the system is running without major issues, and the teams from both groups have praised the quality of the organization. Open Modal and Lahaye Global Logistics now share a transport plan they describe as « optimal in terms of potential and economic relevance », with the shared ambition of quickly reaching the break-even point ans sustaining these services.
This partnership illustrates Open Modal’s ability to innovate, unite industry players, and build sustainable rail solutions to support the decarbonization of freight transport.
