en.Wedoany.com Reported - Hannibal, the multimodal transport operator under Italy's Contship Group, has launched a new service connecting the Melzo terminal near Milan with the Rotterdam Europoort terminal. The service began operations on July 8, running six trains per week.
This new route links the group's inland terminal in Melzo, RHM – Rail Hub Milano, with the Rotterdam Europoort terminal, an integrated logistics hub combining rail, maritime, and short-sea shipping, and one of the most important logistics hubs in Northern Europe.
The new service operates as an open-access rail train, open to multiple customers. Designed for semi-trailers, containers, and swap bodies, it runs six trains per week, with each train capable of carrying up to 38 loading units. Departures from Melzo are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, while departures from Rotterdam Europoort are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, with a transit time of approximately 24 hours. Train traction is provided in collaboration with Swiss Federal Railways (SBB).
The route offers operational flexibility to customers by providing both lift-on/lift-off (lo-lo) and roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) multimodal transport solutions. Lo-lo involves handling transport units using cranes or lifting equipment, while ro-ro allows wheeled units to be loaded and unloaded directly. This combination can accommodate different types of cargo flows, meeting the logistics needs of European shippers.
The Rotterdam Europoort terminal is one of the main logistics hubs of the Port of Rotterdam. Its geographical location enables rail transport to be combined with short-sea and deep-sea shipping services, serving as an integration and distribution hub for the Benelux region, Germany, the United Kingdom, and major Nordic markets. For Contship, the new service complements its operational coverage in the Rotterdam port terminal area. Hannibal already operates routes to Moerdijk, RSC, Botlek, and Europoort.
With the launch of the new route, the number of weekly rail services between Melzo and the Netherlands reaches 36. Contship stated that the network expansion is part of a broader strategic plan through which the group aims to strengthen its position on major European freight corridors. In the coming months, the group plans to launch new projects to expand rail connections and enhance the multimodal transport network.
