In recent weeks a raft of new intermodal rail services has been started up in Italy by various operators: MarCo (MilanBasel-Mannheim); ICF (MilanAmsterdam "fast freight train" and Verona-Oradea); Hupac Intermodal (Genova-Switzerland-GermanyScandinavia "Medgate Shuttle"); and Fergeno Express (Milan-Rotterdam for UK).
The underlying rail haulage market in Italy is certainly more competitive. Originally new entrant FNM Ferrovie Nord Milano was lined up by the MarCo partners (DB Cargo and Eurogate's Contship Italia SpA) for the traction between Melzo and the Swiss border at Domodossola where the train is handed over to DB Cargo's strategic partner BLS (see WorldCargo News, July 2002, p41 and August 202, p24). However, Trenitalia Cargo (ex-FS Merci) must have "sharpened its pencil" as it is the carrier in Italy for MarCo's introductory service....
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Approx 995 words from WorldCargo News, December 2002,
page 28.
