The port of Trieste is the most active in Italy when it comes to rail freight. However, rail freight traffic at the port has been significantly decreasing this year. So far, freight trains handled in Trieste dropped by 13 per cent.
Moreover, there was a reduction in freight trains at the port of Monfalcone as well, a smaller port near Trieste. In the first 10 months of 2024, 6,070 trains passed through the port of Trieste and 1,550 in Monfalcone. The goal for the two ports was to reach 10,000 trains this year. However, with the latest developments, this goal seems unattainable.
The causes behind the drop
The trends identified in Trieste and Monfalcone reflect the current situation of the rail freight sector in Italy. An unusual number of infrastructure upgrade projects and subsidy cuts were among the main reasons for the rail freight decrease in Trieste and Monfalcone. More specifically, a subsidy for 115 million euros aimed at financing the renewal of rail rolling stock in Italy might completely disappear after already being reduced by 55 million euros.
Rail infrastructure upgrades throughout Europe, in addition, have caused a reverse modal shift, with more goods being moved via the road. This is a trend that is not expected to be resolved soon enough, as the closure for renovation of the Tauern tunnel, in Austria, will keep causing disruptions until the next summer.