Rome. Transporting goods by rail is the most sustainable mode of transport, with the lowest emissions. It is also the safest, as highways clogged with trucks pose immediate risks of accidents and long-term health consequences related to air quality. It is also the most cost-effective, and large companies know this, increasingly turning to rail transport companies. However, the conditions must be created to further develop this mode, encouraging it with the necessary and indispensable public support. This is the responsibility of Fermerci, a system association representing all the players in the railway logistics sector: railway companies, railway terminals, multimodal operators, last-mile railway operators, railway vehicle manufacturers and owners, and railway personnel training centers. Fermerci's importance is evident in its numbers: 74 members, €3 billion in aggregate turnover, 12 employees, and €2 billion in planned investments. In September 2025, Fermerci member companies accounted for 77% of traffic volumes on the national network.
Rail freight transport issues will be the focus of the annual event organized by Mercintreno (www.mercintreno.it), the national forum for the promotion of rail freight transport, founded in 2009 to contribute to the sector's development and improvement of efficiency, to its greater valorization, and to raise awareness among institutions, industry stakeholders, and the public about the environmental, social, and economic values of rail freight transport. The event will take place on October 15th in Rome, at the CNEL headquarters.
On the Mercintreno table, among the various moments of reflection there are two burning current issues concerning the railway networks of Switzerland , Germany"These are two very serious issues that risk causing major problems for Italian exports," warns Giuseppe Rizzi, general manager of Fermerci, speaking to Dire.
"We risk a 'continuous storm' due to the fragility of a system that is subject to both contingencies and predictable situations," explains Rizzi. "We have a situation on the Alpine passes that could have its effects starting from the beginning of next year, if the Swiss Federal Office of Transport's provision is not changed."
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A problem that is hoped to be resolved, but it doesn't end there. Germany. To carry out railway works funded partly by the Next Generation EU, what we call the NRRP in Italy, and partly by the federal government, vast railway sections, entire lines, will be closed for construction between 2026 and 2032. Not limited or reduced traffic, but a total closure until the work is completed. "I hope all this will be mitigated as much as possible," hopes the Fermerci director general. "About 40 lines will be affected, with each line interrupted for five months. Unlike RFI in Italy, which is managing the situation as best as possible, despite significant inconvenience for railway operators and freight customers, by allowing trains to pass, alternating the work over time, and offering alternatives," in Germany "this is not happening, and the disruption is total; for the five months planned for each line, no trains will be served."
"We're talking about lines that, in some cases, are vital for European rail freight traffic, not just German ones. These lines are part of the European North-South Corridor, passing through Europe's most productive areas," warns Giuseppe Rizzi, Fermerci's general manager, "the main corridor in Europe." Indeed, "in the coming years, the railway lines on the German side of this corridor will be closed," he emphasizes, "without solutions or with solutions proposed by the German network that will be extremely inconvenient for operators: we're talking about increases in mileage, in some cases as much as 400%." All of this "will increase costs and make rail freight uncompetitive, damaging businesses," Rizzi emphasizes. To address the issue, "as an association, we are in discussions with all the relevant institutional decision-makers, and our first request is for greater coordination between European national railway infrastructure managers," says Fermerci's general manager. "This demonstrates that rail freight transport is an issue of European, not just national, interest."
These issues affect not only transport companies but the entire country, given our manufacturing vocation, which is expressed in Northern European markets. If the lines are interrupted, the consequences will reach far beyond the sector. All of this will be discussed at Mercintreno.
The program is available at www.mercintreno.it.
Comments (1)
The article discusses important issues regarding rail freight transport, but I wonder whether the proposed solutions are truly effective. The closures in Germany could further complicate matters for Italian exporters. It's crucial to reach an agreement.