GRUBER Logistics invests in Italy-Germany intermodal transport

Thanks to the commitment of GRUBER Logistics, the new rail freight route between Kreuztal and Verona is now operational.

Launched on 6 May, the new direct intermodal link connects the German city of Kreuztal, in southern Westphalia, to Verona, in northern Italy. This new service significantly strengthens transport connections between Italy and Germany, meeting the demands of a strategic freight logistics corridor.

The service takes 38 hours to cover approximately 1,000 km and currently operates three weekly round trips, with the goal of increasing departure frequency in the coming months.

GRUBER Logistics, which has had a branch just a few kilometres from the Kreuztal terminal for 13 years, played a decisive role in the process leading to the opening of the new intermodal route. The company was the first to advocate for this connection, identifying it as a key hub for Italy-Germany freight transport and helping to enhance the efficiency of the European logistics network.

“When we heard there was a plan to build an intermodal terminal, we immediately contacted the project leaders, seeking to secure a connection to Italy,” states Martin Gruber, CEO of GRUBER Logistics Group. “One of the key factors that convinced us to invest in the project was our desire to contribute as a company to greater sustainability in transport. Rail transport, in fact, significantly reduces CO2 emissions, allowing us to remove from the Brenner Motorway around 70 trucks per day, with substantial positive impacts on road congestion.”

This is not the first investment of its kind for the South Tyrolean company.

“We have been operating in intermodal transport for more than 40 years and can consider ourselves one of the Italian pioneers in this field,” adds Martin Gruber. “Already today, 30% of our cross-border transports are carried out by rail, and this percentage could increase if only the infrastructure permitted it! As a transport company, we hope that policymakers will finally begin to grasp the enormous potential of this mode of transport and take the necessary steps to expand the intermodal network across the entire region.”