Fermerci: “Intermodal transport slows down without EU rules and coordination”

“ Intermodal transport represents an essential pillar for Italian and European logistics : it is the key to combining competitiveness, sustainability and resilience of our production chains”. This was stated by Giuseppe Rizzi , CEO of Fermerci , on the sidelines of "Fermerci Europa - Competitiveness and resilience of intermodal corridors", an event organised as part of Transport Logistic 2025 in Munich.

Despite positive expectations, there are still many critical issues affecting the sector and preventing its recovery and development, in particular the difficult international context and the network interruptions caused by the completion of the works envisaged by the PNRR both at national and European level. “In Italy – explained Rizzi – RFI is effectively managing the planning of railway interruptions necessary for the completion of the PNRR works , thanks to careful planning and constant dialogue with rail freight transport operators. Unfortunately – he added – the same shared planning logic is not yet sufficiently applied in other European countries, causing critical issues for cross-border flows. True coordination between European railway infrastructure managers is therefore essential to mitigate the effects of interruptions on freight corridors and ensure the full operability of international rail transport”.

Rizzi also underlined the need for European policies that are more in line with the real needs of the market: “The proposed revision of the directive on combined transport is an important step, but strong coordination between Member States is needed to avoid regulatory and implementation misalignments, which risk nullifying the investments made to modernise the railway network and build a true single European railway area”.

A sensitive issue for the sector also concerns the State aid regime . “The proposal to exempt from prior notification to the European Commission measures to support rail freight and intermodal transport is an indispensable tool to accelerate the achievement of European rail freight traffic objectives. In the absence of this measure, the authorization times may compromise the effectiveness of the interventions and put the funding itself at risk, as unfortunately happened in Italy with the 'Loco e Carri' decree ”.

Precisely on this point, Rizzi recalled how the defunding of the decree has generated heavy repercussions on operators: "Between 2021 and 2023, orders for approximately 700 million euros had already been placed, for the purchase of 196 new locomotives and freight cars. Investments undertaken on the basis of regulatory commitments and the expected disbursement of contributions. To date, companies are still waiting for the allocation of resources, despite the financial exposure already incurred".

“If we really want to relaunch rail freight transport as a strategic axis for European competitiveness – he concluded – we need regulatory certainties, simple rules and full cooperation between all the parties involved, at national and European level”.