Intermodal Terminal Milano Smistamento, Swiss Government Unlocks 67.5 Million Euros

Funding is now available for the construction of the intermodal terminal at Milano Smistamento. Following the announcement from the Swiss Government about unlocking a contribution of 66.3 million Swiss Francs, equivalent to 67.5 million euros, the top executives of FS Group and Swiss operator Hupac met today in Rome. Through the company Teralp (a joint venture between Mercitalia Logistics and Hupac), the construction works will begin.
The meeting was attended by Luigi Ferraris (CEO FS Group), Carlo Palasciano (Chief International Officer and President of Mercitalia Logistics), and Gianpiero Strisciuglio (CEO Mercitalia Logistics), and from Teralp, Bernhard Kuntz, President of Teralp, Benedetta Masciari, CFO of Hupac, and Piero Solcà, Teralp Board Member.

 

The intermodal terminal at Milano Smistamento, where compensatory works in the Segrate municipality are already advanced, will be built on an area of approximately 240,000 square meters and will be equipped with state-of-the-art, technologically advanced equipment. This will ensure the highest standards of safety and efficiency while minimizing the environmental impact on the surrounding area.

 

The facility will consist of 15 tracks, each 740 meters long, including 10 transloading tracks and 5 support tracks, 6 electric gantry cranes, parking for semi-trailers, operational offices, and a warehouse for spare parts and minor maintenance. The total investment, excluding the Swiss Government contribution, amounts to 108.5 million euros. The construction work is expected to take about three years; at full capacity, the terminal will handle up to 22 train pairs per day and will be able to process approximately 395,000 UTI per year.

 

During the meeting, the importance of the commercial partnership between FS Group and the Swiss operator Hupac was emphasized, as outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October. The MoU aims to develop logistics and intermodal transport solutions, particularly on Italy – North Eastern Europe routes, as well as between Southern Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

 

In line with the FS Group’s Industrial Plan and investments in the Logistics Pole, work is underway to create a new hub to enhance the quality of intermodal transport and expand the rail freight network in Italy, aiming to meet European objectives and achieve a 30% rail freight share by 2030.

 

This is not the first time the Swiss Confederation has supported an overseas construction project in line with Switzerland’s modal shift policy. Efficient transshipment facilities for combined transport are a key component of Switzerland’s and Europe’s modal shift policy. The Swiss Confederation has also invested in funding other transshipment terminals in Italy, such as those in Brescia and Piacenza. Rail transport from Milan will help avoid around 150,000 truck shipments per year, a considerable number of which are destined for areas north of the Swiss Alps.