Hannibal, the multimodal operator of the Italian Contship Group, is expanding its European intermodal network with a new connection between theterminal in Melzo and the Rotterdam Europoort terminal. The service operates six trains per week and is designed for semi-trailers, containers, and swap bodies.
Hannibal, the multimodal operator of the Contship Group, is launching a new intermodal connection between Melzo, near Milan, and Rotterdam Europoort, one of Northern Europe’s most important logistics hubs.
The new link connects the group’s inland terminal in Melzo, RHM – Rail Hub Milano, with the Rotterdam Europoort terminal, an integrated logistics hub for rail, maritime, and short-sea shipping flows.
The service has been operational since July 8 and strengthens Hannibal’s connections with the Port of Rotterdam and markets in Northern Europe.
Six trains per week
The new Melzo–Rotterdam Europoort connection will operate as an open rail shuttle, available to multiple customers.
The service is designed for semi-trailers, containers, and swap bodies and will run six trains per week. Each train will be able to carry up to 38 loading units.
Departures from Italy are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from Melzo, while departures from Rotterdam Europoort are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Transit time is approximately 24 hours.
Train traction will be provided in partnership with SBB, the Swiss railway group.
Lo-lo and ro-ro connections
The new route offers customers greater operational flexibility by providing both types of intermodal solutions: lo-lo and ro-ro.
The lo-lo (lift-on/lift-off) solution involves handling transport units with cranes or lifting equipment, while ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) allows for the loading and unloading of units on wheels.
Through this combination, the service can accommodate various types of cargo flows and meet the logistical needs of European shippers.
Rotterdam Europoort: Gateway to the Benelux, Germany, and the United Kingdom
The Rotterdam Europoort terminal is one of the main logistics hubs of the Port of Rotterdam and plays a key role in international supply chains.
Its location allows for the combination of rail transport with short-sea and deep-sea shipping services. As a result, Europoort functions as a consolidation and distribution hub for traffic to the Benelux, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the main markets in Northern Europe.
For Contship, the new service complements its operational coverage in the Rotterdam port terminal area.
Through Hannibal, the group already operates connections to the main facilities in the area: Moerdijk, RSC, Botlek, and now Europoort.
36 weekly services between Melzo and the Netherlands
With the launch of the new connection, the number of weekly rail services between Melzo and the Netherlands reaches 36.
Contship states that the network expansion is part of a broader strategic plan through which the group aims to strengthen its position on the main European freight corridors.
In the coming months, the group plans to launch new projects to expand rail connectivity and strengthen its intermodal network.
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