Launch of a New Intermodal Connection between the Port of Venice and Montirone in the Province of Brescia
The new intermodal connection between the Port of Venice and Montirone, in the province of Brescia, is now operational. The service is provided by Magli Intermodal Service Group (MIS Group) in collaboration with PSA Italy’s Vecon-PSA Venice container terminal and GME Metals, a leading company in the steel sector primarily through the supply of ferroalloys.
Venice, 11/10/2024
Following a successful testing phase over recent weeks, the rail link between the Vecon-PSA Venice terminal in Marghera and the Montirone intermodal terminal in the province of Brescia is now fully operational. Montirone is one of the key hubs where the MIS Group operates to expand its offering as a Multimodal Transport Operator (MTO). The train configuration includes 23 wagons of 60 feet, with a capacity of 46 containers.
This new solution begins with a schedule of 50 round-trip trains per year, with strong commitment from all involved parties to increase service frequency. The goal is to capture additional containerized cargo that requires a reliable and fast connection to one of the most important economic districts in Northern Italy and beyond. Furthermore, thanks to the active connection between Montirone and Rotterdam, also operated by MIS with traction from SBB, clients of this new service will be able to extend their market reach to the Benelux and the UK, saving time and CO2 emissions compared to transit times of services to and from the East that pass through Suez and Gibraltar, heading to Northern Europe, the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia. For both Montirone and international traffic, MIS can also offer last-mile transport services, thanks to a fleet of over 140 vehicles and more than 160 trailers. These trucks have an average age of less than three years and are operated by MIS’s in-house drivers.
“Our goal is to support our clients in their modal shift projects and improve sustainability performance by leveraging the expertise and assets we’ve built over time and aim to further develop for the benefit of a supply chain that can rely on regular and competitive rail transport,” said Paolo Magli, President of MIS Group. “We are grateful for the trust that GME Metals has placed in us, and we are confident that, together with our partner Vecon-PSA Venice, we can further develop the service frequency by capturing additional containerized volumes and extending the reach of the Port of Venice.”
“We have developed this rail transport idea with MIS, our long-time logistics partner, because we believe that sustainability has become a priority that compels us all to rethink our production and logistics processes,” said Andrea Quaresmini, CEO of GME Metals. “GME Metals is committed to this cause and has decided to reduce road transport. This journey started some time ago, with intermodal deliveries to customers, especially in German-speaking countries. Now, we have taken a step further by withdrawing material via rail from the Port of Marghera for storage in our warehouses. A new warehouse has been selected in Montirone, opposite the dry port managed by MIS. After the initial trials, we are confident that this is the right path. Europe is urging us to reduce CO2 emissions, and our customers (Iron foundries and steel mills across Europe) must act accordingly. We are doing our part by choosing suppliers that best meet this need and using rail transport as much as possible to minimize the carbon footprint of ferroalloys.”
“We are extremely satisfied with this partnership with MIS,” added Daniele Marchiori, General Manager of PSA VENICE-Vecon. “One of Vecon-PSA Venice’s business objectives is to ensure a sustainable supply chain: why transport 40 containers by truck from the Port of Venice to Brescia when a block train can do the job? This reduces CO2 emissions, increases road safety, and guarantees transit times. The know-how of our team enables us to enhance the value chain through optimized and sustainable logistics operations.”
“This new service confirms that the strategy pursued by the Northern Adriatic Sea Port Authority (AdSP MAS) to promote rail transport is the right one,” said Fulvio Lino Di Blasio, President of the Northern Adriatic Sea Port Authority. “Over the years, rail transport at the Port of Venice has grown steadily, and in 2023, we handled over 2 million tons. From January to September 2024, we have already surpassed 1.6 million tons, a 6% increase compared to the same period last year. Despite international crises and infrastructure challenges—such as the temporary closures of the Brenner and Tarvisio crossings due to RFI’s work to expand the national rail network capacity—we remain committed to investing in rail transport. Key projects already underway include the new rail bridge over the western canal, a €24 million project that will eliminate bottlenecks for commercial terminals, and the €19 million traffic optimization project on Via dell’Elettricità. Upcoming projects include resolving the Via della Chimica bottleneck for €15 million and the €1.2 million intermodal platform. We believe that, through these initiatives, the Authority can contribute to enhancing the environmental sustainability of the Port of Venice, bringing the Veneto region closer to European transport standards and improving the logistical efficiency of the port, allowing sectors like containerized goods to reach new markets and stimulating a decisive modal shift from road to rail.”
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