FS Logistix tests International Intermodal Service connecting 4 countries in Europe

Germany, Romania, Italy, and Austria are the four countries now connected by a new intermodal rail service since mid-March, through a triangular rail service designed to meet the needs of major Italian and Romanian clients.

 

This initiative is carried out by Polo Logistica (FS Italiane Group), through its subsidiary TX Logistik AG, specializing in intermodal transport across Europe. The service currently connects the four countries with one train per week, but after the initial success of the service, the frequency is set to double starting from April 18.

 

Unlike typical round-trip journeys between two destinations, the triangular concept created by FS Group with TX Logistik, designed for two major Romanian shipping companies and an Italian operator, offers significant advantages to make rail freight transport more efficient and increase the modal shift towards this more sustainable form of mobility. This new service allows customers to use the efficient rail transport, despite varying cargo flows depending on the countries crossed. While all regions handle large volumes of goods, the volumes are not always sufficient to fill trains for a typical round-trip service, which is why this service, which meets the needs of multiple clients, works.

 

The starting and ending point of the triangular connection is the rail terminal in Arad, Curtici. From there, the train, which is also the first intermodal connection between Romania and Italy, heads first to the Quadrante Europa terminal in Verona, with a stop at the TSSU terminal in Hall/Tyrol, where wagons with trailers for Austria are transferred. From Verona, the journey continues - with another stop at Hall - to Duisburg. Here, TX Logistik, as one of the three owners, manages the destination terminal at the Logport III logistics area. The route from Duisburg back to Curtici marks the end of the triangular service.

 

This is a nearly 4,000-kilometer route, which also involves a partnership between two operators in traction: TX Logistik and the Hungarian railway company Gysev, which is responsible for the intermodal train traction in Hungary and the Romanian section.

 

Given the success of this service, FS Group is considering expanding the triangular concept to other suitable routes in Europe.