GEODIS, in collaboration with Rail Logistics Europe — both part of the SNCF Group — launches a new dedicated railway line between Italy and France

Key figures:

• 80% lower CO2 emissions per shipment on average, including road pre- and post-carriage, compared with an all-road diesel solution (actual savings vary depending on operating conditions);
• Up to 28 tonnes of goods to be handled per transport vs. 25 tonnes typically carried by traditional road transport
• Aim of reaching 6,500 swap bodies by 2027 per year.
  
  

France and Italy maintain strong economic ties, with bilateral trade in goods and services reaching €136 billion in 2025. Italy is France’s fourth-largest trading partner, while France is Italy’s second. This close relationship is underpinned by strong industrial links, with 4,000 companies operating across both countries.

The new section extends to clients in the Northeast of Italy the railway solutions already available to companies in Lombardy, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna, served through the connection departing from Novara. The initiative allows GEODIS to expand its territorial coverage and offer an alternative to transport entirely by road along an axis not previously served directly.

The service initially provides for one weekly departure in each direction, with an increase to two per week starting from January 2027. The line is designed to transport different types of goods, including packed liquid and powdery goods.

The use of this intermodal solution enables freight volumes to be shifted from road to rail, reducing CO2 emissions by 80% per shipment on average, including road pre- and post-carriage, compared with an all- road diesel solution (actual savings vary depending on operating conditions). Source: EcoTransIT World The service also allows up to 28 tonnes of goods to be handled per transport, compared to the 25 tonnes typically carried by traditional road transport, and offers greater cost stability than a model based solely on road transport, particularly in a phase characterised by volatile fuel prices.

Marc VOLLET, EVP European Road Network, GEODIS commented: “With the Vicenza-Paris connection, we are expanding our intermodal offer and introducing a new railway axis to serve companies in the North East of Italy. The goal is to provide customers with a competitive solution for freight transport, capable of combining operational efficiency, management of large volumes and a reduction in CO2 emissions compared to transport entirely by road.

The new line is part of the strategy to develop GEODIS’ intermodal offer and joins the Group’s other rail connections, strengthening transport opportunities with lower CO2 emissions for companies operating in European markets.”

For this new service, GEODIS has chosen to draw on Rail Logistics Europe, the group specialising in rail freight transport and logistics, two of whose companies – Captrain and Hexafret – will be involved in transporting GEODIS’s freight, thanks to their presence on this route and their European expertise in rail logistics.

Jean-François ANCORA, Managing Director, Captrain Italia commented: “Rail is an efficient mode of transport, especially over long distances, with much lower CO2 emissions than road transport. Drawing on our operational expertise and strong European network, we are delighted to offer GEODIS high- performance, cost-effective, and lower-emission logistics solutions for international transport. We would like to thank GEODIS for the trust they have placed in us. Captrain Italia is proud to have contributed to the launch of this new rail service, which I hope will pave the way for many more services designed to meet our customers’ needs.”

An expansion of the service is planned from January 2027, with the aim of reaching 6,500 swap bodies by 2027 per year.