The increasing trend of Italian importers to transport goods by rail is confirmed by the departure of more than 1,000 tonnes of steel billets from the Port of Genoa. These will be transported by rail from the Genoa Metal Terminal to the Lecco-Maggianico Interporto terminal near Milan. To transport the same amount of goods by road would require 35 trucks, the standardization of the transport of steel products by rail will thus have significant sustainability benefits for the Port of Genoa.
There has been a confirmed growth trend in rail transport, which is gradually becoming an integral part of the Port of Genoa's operations. The increasing preference for rail is evidenced by the growing traffic volumes, which have increased by 10.3% compared to the first half of 2021. The ports of Genoa and Savona-Vado carried more than 6,500 trains in the first half of 2022, while at the same time extending this new service to the category of non-containerised goods that were transported almost exclusively by road in the past.
The greater demand for rail transport can be explained by several factors. The increase in road transport prices and the additional costs due to the permanence of containers at the port terminals play a significant role. As part of its long-term strategy, the Port of Genoa is focusing on diversifying its various modes of transport. In its exceptional program, it is investing in the expansion of road and rail infrastructure in order to create a viable and sustainable logistics chain.
