"2023 is fast becoming an annus horribilis for rail freight transport, dragging combined transport with it," said UIRR (Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport) President Ralf-Charley Schultze.

A number of factors have contributed to the industry's sluggish performance this year, such as extreme weather events and natural disasters, extensive work throughout the network especially at the "gateways" to Italy, all accompanied by steadily rising energy costs and interstate conflicts that have been perpetuating for months.

At the Bologna Freight Village, in October 2023, the declining trend that had already emerged in the previous months confirmed its dynamics, registering, compared to 2022, a 40% trend decline in trains and a 20% decline in road vehicles.
The numbers for shunting and handling activities continue to show, even this month, a slowdown in the decrease compared to previous months, suggesting an increasing saturation of trains.
The cyclical analysis, which compares the month's numbers with those of the previous month, shows a less significant negative dynamic of -7 percent for the number of trains and -4 percent for the number of trucks.

The complete report is availeble HERE