The ÖBB Rail Cargo Group is expanding its presence in the Italian rail freight market. A ten-year contract sealed a close collaboration with the Terminal Sona near Verona.
This development positions the company as one of the main partners of the terminal near Verona, securing significant capacities at a rapidly growing logistics hub early on, according to the rail logistics company. In the coming years, the RCG plans to further expand its shipments and contribute to shifting traffic from road to the
more environmentally friendly railways.
Development Potential at Terminal Sona
The Terminal Sona has two entry and exit tracks and four loading tracks, each 600 meters long, for loading and unloading freight trains. With a total area of around 110,000 square meters, the facility aims to offer enough space for all intermodal logistics processes, such as transferring containers from train to truck or vice versa.
A significant expansion of capacity is planned by 2028, with additional regular train connections already coming next year,
it is said. The goal is to develop the terminal into a major distribution center. Projects are already being prepared to enable new connections and more transport via Sona.
Hub for European Freight Traffic
The aim of the strategic cooperation is to establish the Sona site as an intermodal hub for goods traffic to and from Southern, Northern, and Eastern Europe, thus facilitating the collaboration of various transport carriers. From there, up to 30 train connections per week could already be starting,
it is said.Direct TransFER Connections via Verona
The Terminal Sona near Verona is currently integrated into several RCG TransFER connections. These include the following regular, direct train connections for freight transport:
- TransFER Vienna–Verona: twice a week in both directions
- TransFER Verona–Hanover: four times a week in both directions
- TransFER Verona–Wuppertal: eight times a week in both directions
The connections from Italy to Germany would help avoid truck journeys over the heavily burdened Brenner route and thus contribute to relieving Tyrol of transit
