Italian intermodal operator Hannibal will launch a new open-rail shuttle between Rail Hub Milano in Melzo and Rotterdam Europoort this week, adding six weekly trains to its Italy–Netherlands network. The move completes parent company Contship Group’s Rotterdam coverage, lifting Hannibal’s Melzo–Netherlands offer to 36 weekly rail services.
The new service starts on 8 July, adding Europoort to Hannibal’s existing Rotterdam-area network of Moerdijk, RSC, and Botlek. The addition gives Contship another terminal call in the Netherlands, strengthening the role of Melzo, which lies 20km east of Milan, as a rail gateway into Northern Europe.
Europoort provides the Melzo service with access to one of Rotterdam’s main rail and maritime logistics platforms. Because the terminal combines rail links with short-sea and deep-sea connections, it is set to function as a consolidation and distribution point for traffic moving towards the Benelux region, Germany, the UK, and Scandinavia.
‘New projects planned’
The service is an open-rail shuttle designed for semi-trailers, containers, and swap bodies. It offers both Lo-Lo and Ro-Ro handling options to accommodate different intermodal and trailer flows, with the Swiss SBB handling traction.
Transit time is around 24 hours, with capacity for up to 38 load units per train. Departures from Melzo are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with return departures from Europoort on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Contship said the launch was part of its broader rail-connectivity plans, with “several new projects” planned in the coming months to strengthen its position across key European freight corridors.
