Three cranes costing five million euros each are already positioned. Then the Le Mose terminal for the transport of goods by rail will come into operation at the end of the year, thus almost tripling its activity. The mayor Katia Tarasconi, the councilors Matteo Bongiorni and Francesco Brianzi and a large representation of majority councillors, visited "Piacenza Intermodale" , the terminal managed by the Swiss group "Hupac" (a company which also sees a participation of the Ferrovie dello State).

Currently, mostly trucks and lorries arrive at the terminal, representing 70% of transports. The three current tracks are insufficient: they see 100 thousand units (containers) pass through here per year, which is not enough, which is why the Hupac company has invested in adding another five, under the imposing cranes. The activity area will increase by another 75 thousand square meters.

During the inspection, Piero Solcà , CEO of Hupac, illustrated to the administrators the activity of the terminal, which is located right next to the Ikea hub . The trains will arrive under the cranes, completely electric to improve environmental sustainability. These will unload the containers, thus increasing the number of modules from 100 thousand to 280 thousand, tripling the commitment of "Piacenza intermodale" on rail. At the end of 2024 or at the latest at the beginning of 2025 the terminal will be ready and operational.

The terminal, as Solcà explained, works not only for Hupac's partner companies, but is open to all operators. Goods arrive and depart from here, import and export. Most trains come from Poland, Belgium and England. Some transport up to 55 containers, while the smallest ones stop at 35. «The European standard for a freight train is 740 meters long. The more loaded the train, the more economically sustainable the journey is", underlined the CEO of Hupac.

THE BUNDLE OF TRACKS BETWEEN THE STATION AND THE MOSE

Solcà spoke with city administrators on the long-awaited connection between the Piacenza railway station and Le Mose, the missing piece for a real enhancement of rail freight transport, replacing trucks. «The iron pole is the real issue, the decisive agreement - said Solcà - to complete the last step. The track strip connection between Moses and the railway station is currently not yet possible."

When a freight train arrives at the station in the capital, a locomotive leaves Le Mose and approaches. Containers must be unloaded and reloaded on other trains or vehicles. Obviously it's a waste of time and time, especially in this industry, is money. «Large trains are unable to travel through this last passage, the Piacenza station is ancient, old, there is no way. To have full functionality you need that set of tracks", Solcà recalled.

Commitment, that for the iron pole, well known to Mayor Tarasconi. «The objective is to bring home - expressed the mayor - together with RFI, the space necessary to guarantee this bundle of tracks which would change the life of the Le Mose logistics hub. Furthermore, we would free the Piacenza railway station from the current tracks dedicated to freight transport. The project is there, we hope to define the agreement together."

On the other hand, Italy, in the Pnrr, should increase the share of goods transported by rail up to 30%. Very ambitious project, given that it is currently stuck at a third of this threshold.