Link: Nasce Binario Italia, la task force per salvare la logistica ferroviaria | Ship2Shore

Original artcile in Italian

Binario Italia is born, the task force to save railway logistics

Five major associations in the sector (Agens, Assoferr, Assologistica, Fercargo and Fermerci) united to present a shared plan to the institutions: "The freight train is strategic for the future of the country"

A single voice to give new impetus to Italian railway logistics. This is the meaning of the Binario Italia initiative, the task force recently launched by Agens, Assoferr, Assologistica, Fercargo and Fermerci - the main trade associations of rail freight transport - which together represent over 400 companies in the sector.

The goal is ambitious: to overcome the current critical issues and build a shared vision for the structural relaunch of the sector, recognizing its strategic value for the competitiveness of the Italian economy. The first step will be the drafting of a joint paper to be presented to the institutions, which defines short- and long-term interventions.

The signing of the pact of intent, signed at the CNEL headquarters in Rome, was attended by Sabrina De Filippis (Agens), Armando De Girolamo (Assoferr), Umberto Ruggerone (Assologistica), Mauro Pessano (Fercargo) and Clemente Carta (Fermerci). The five representatives underlined the need for clear, stable and investment-friendly rules, capable of bridging the competitive gap with respect to road transport.

The development potential is enormous: every kilometer traveled by a freight train generates a saving of approximately 15.30 euros in terms of external costs compared to road transport. In 2024 alone, the overall benefit for the country is estimated to have exceeded 780 million euros.

Yet, the sector still suffers from low margins, high operating costs and infrastructure deficiencies. Hence the appeal to politics: act now to avoid a collapse, and at the same time invest in a sustainable, efficient and modern vision of rail freight transport. A bet that, if won, could transform a structural fragility into a decisive asset for the future.