Sustainable commitments
Europorte is committed on a daily basis to developing a unique culture and an innovative offer based on four main values:
Safety
Europorte is the first private rail company since 2004 to be granted an operator licence by the French State authorising it to develop rail services throughout the European Union.
Safety represents a top priority for Europorte, exercising rigour on a daily basis in its management of safety and in its implementation of railway operating regulations:
- Expertise on Seveso sites
- Quality certification
- 4 MASE certificates
- Transport of dangerous goods according to international regulations (RIP, ADR)
- Channel Tunnel Certification
- SPA risk prevention policy.
Europorte further reinforced monitoring of skills and security clearances, including the introduction of an IT tool to manage clearances for all staff exercising safety functions in 2012.
All safety incidents are recorded and analysed, so that recommendations can be made and action plans drawn up.
Quality of service
Europorte offers integrated rail services on all market segments, on all distances and for all types of goods.
Europorte is able to propose personalised solutions on the full range of rail services under a single brand, with the primary objectives of quality of service and simplified solutions for its customers:
 | Regularity: Europorte France is committed to its customers for its trainsto achieve and deliver a 95% regularity rate |
 | Punctuality: Europorte Franceis committed to its customers for its trainsto achieve and deliver a 90% punctuality rate (within 2 hours of schedule) |
 | Reliability: a control implemented by each subsidiary in France and in the United Kingdom, which has contributed towards GB Railfreight wining the award for Best Rail Freight Operator at the National Rail Awards in 2011 |
 | Quality: an ongoing quest to improve the quality of service offered according to the high standards set by Eurotunnel Group |
 | Expertise: a technical expertise of the specifics of the rail sector, logistics, maintenance and cross-Channel traffic |
 | Flexibility: Europorte and GB Railfreight offer tailor-made services to their customers, a mark of competitiveness in the rail freight sector |
 | Optimisation of transportation plans on the basis of regular allocation of train paths |
 | Guarantee of high level of service by providing reliable human and equipment resources dedicated to traffic |
 | Real time communications to customers on the situation of their goods traffic |
Training
Europorte allocates a large budget for employee training, especially in the areas of train driving (mainly Europorte France and GB Railfreight) and safety and operational functions. In 2012, c.57,000 hours of training were given to Europorte France employees.
On 9 December 2004, the International railway training centre in Coquelles (CIFFCO) was approved by the Ministry of equipment, transport and territorial development to deliver a large number of training courses, in particular for train drivers, safety positions such as shunters, checkers, or foreman shunter.
The training centre is used by Europorte to train its current and future employees.
›› More on CIFFCO website (French version only)
In this field, Europorte has already participated in the implementation and development of a training programme in disciplines relating to railway engineering and maintenance, in collaboration with the French national Conservatory of Arts and Crafts (CNAM). Europorte has also initiated a review of the implementation of a training structure leading to train driving qualifications, also in partnership with CNAM.
GB Railfreight supports Network Rail in its initiative to implement an 18-month programme which seeks to recruit around 100 people who hold a university degree, thereby guaranteeing them professional training in the rail professions in the framework of an apprenticeship contract. GB Railfreight has volunteered to participate in supervision of this training in the London area.
Respect for the environment
Circulation of goods by rail is a transport mode particularly suited to long distances, for large loads and consistent with predominantly night time traffic.
Compared to the road alternative, rail freight benefits from clear environmental advantages that contribute to limiting pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (road transport generates 8 times more CO2 than rail transport), to improving road traffic flow and to reducing the risk of road accidents.
Eurotunnel Group, which includes Europorte and its subsidiaries, has been certified in 2011 by the Carbon Trust Standard for reducing its carbon footprint by 20% over the period 2009-2010 and for being committed to a further 3% reduction each year.
To meet customers concerns, Europorte and its subsidiaries are offering to produce an environmental performance report for them to compare logistics solutions according to their environmental impact.
Thanks to a wide range of electric and diesel locomotives, Europorte is able to offer a more economic and environmentally-friendly transport service
With afleet which includes many electric locomotives, Europorte uses this type of traction as much as possible. Diesel locomotives are equipped with the latest technology and conform to the highest environmental standards.
From 2011, Europorte introduced an eco-driving module into its training programme for drivers of main line trains. In 2012, the process is no longer focussed exclusively on driving techniques, but also on technical equipment allowing a reduction in consumption by locomotives.
To find out more on CSR, please read the 2012 Corporate Social Responsibility Report of Eurotunnel Group