New TRAXX Universal™ DC Locomotives in Service at Gioia Tauro for Car Transport with Last Mile System

  • Used between Campania and the Calabrian port for car transport
  • Enable train connection even in non-electrified areas

 

Gioia Tauro, 15 May 2024 – The new Traxx Universal™ DC locomotives from FS Group’s Polo Logistica are now operational on the route between Campania and the port of Gioia Tauro.

 

Delivered on May 6 by Alstom to Mercitalia Rail, these locomotives are equipped with the Last Mile technology, an innovative system that allows the train to connect with non-electrified areas without the need for shunting locomotives.

 

Due to these features, the locomotives are deployed to support the connections between Campania and the port of Gioia Tauro, facilitating the transport of Italian cars destined for export.

 

“With the introduction of these new locomotives, we are set to significantly improve the quality of services at the port of Gioia Tauro,” said Sabrina De Filippis, CEO of Mercitalia Logistics. “The innovative Traxx Universal DC with Last Mile module represents a significant step forward for rail-sea integration, as outlined in the Polo Logistica’s industrial plan. This combination will help increase the share of intermodal freight traffic, contributing to a sustainable and highly efficient transport network, benefiting the economy of Southern Italy and supporting Italian import/export.”

 

Andrea Agostinelli, President of the Southern Tyrrhenian and Ionian Sea Port Authority, expressed his satisfaction with the project: “Our commitment to supporting intermodal transport continues, aiming to strengthen Gioia Tauro port’s role as a key Polo Logistica for the entire Southern Italy. I would like to thank Sabrina De Filippis and her team for their focus on developing our port, and also regional assessor Emma Staine with whom we are engaging in a very fruitful dialogue to improve connections with ports across Calabria.”

 

Each train transports around 200 cars from Campania to the port of Gioia Tauro, from where they are exported to the United States through Grimaldi Group services.

 

In 2023, Mercitalia Rail’s automotive services saw the operation of over 2,700 trains, a 10% increase over 2022, carrying a total of approximately 300,000 vehicles.