Port in southern Italy sets out to handle 750-metre freight trains 21/08/23
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The Apulia Region, in southeastern Italy, recently approved the project to upgrade the rail connection to the port of Brindisi with a new track, which will allow traffic of 750-metre trains. The next step is now the publication of tenders, expected before the end of the summer so that construction can start in 2024 and the new track can be up and running by 2026.
The project is being developed by the Italian infrastructure manager Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) and its sister engineering company Italferr, both part of the national railway holding Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS). The backside of the port will be connected to the main national railway network via a new station, Stazione Elementare. Here is where it will be possible to run longer trains.
The new section will be a 1,78-kilometre double-track, as the FS project mentioned. It will join the main network on the Bari-Lecce line and then further onto the Adriatic Railway along the Italian east coast. The highlight of the section will be a viaduct over the Fiume Grande canal. The bridge will measure 53,2 metres from one pillar to the other and has an expected life span of 75 years. This new infrastructure will also separate freight trains and passenger ones, which are all currently passing through the Brindisi Central Station. This is somewhat of a key aspect since the port of Brindisi handles a decent amount of highly hazardous goods.
The new railway line is the red one. Image: © Rete Ferroviaria Italiana/Italferr
RailFreight Connects
The synergies between ports, terminals, and rail infrastructure have recently been under the spotlight, especially in Europe, where ports are increasingly investing in improving rail connectivity. The RailFreight Connects, which will take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bremen, Germany, on 6 and 7 September, will be the perfect opportunity for the industry to discuss how these synergies can be boosted. Representatives from HHLA, the port of Genoa, Nevomo, Lohr, DB Netz, UIRR, and more are among the already confirmed speakers. You can find out more about the RailFreight Connects here and retrieve your tickets here.