Paris Freight Terminal Chapelle International Fails to See Any Train Operations
Inaugurated in 2018 at a cost of €80 million, Chapelle International has never hosted a freight train. This failure illustrates significant risks in public infrastructure projects, particularly when economic viability is overlooked.

Chapelle International, a freight terminal in Paris, was inaugurated in June 2018, aiming to improve urban logistics and reduce pollution. Despite a projected daily operation of four freight shuttles and a plan to remove 500 trucks from Paris roads, no trains have operated since its opening.
The project, supported by Sogaris and SNCF Immobilier, faced critical economic challenges, as rail freight costs outpaced road transport. Furthermore, infrastructure delays hindered essential freight contracts from being fulfilled.
The terminal now hosts a data center and training spaces, highlighting a significant misallocation of public funds. This case serves as a cautionary tale for future public projects regarding economic feasibility.




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