The terminal that the Hungarian government is planning to build at the Italian port of Trieste will be ready by 2028. Initially, estimations had the opening date in 2026, but bureaucratic quibbles are causing some delays.
Construction of the facility might start already this year, especially if today’s meeting at the Italian Ministry of Environment with all parties involved goes well. “We believe that shortly, basically, we will be able not only to start the work, but also then to complete it”, said the Italian deputy minister of transport Edoardo Rixi.
The delays are caused by the lack of authorisation for the area that will be turned into a multipurpose hub by Adria Port, the Hungarian state-owned company which will manage the same-name terminal. In the meantime, the portion of the terminal formerly used by the Aquila refinery is being reclaimed and quaying works are underway to increase capacity.
The Adria Port terminal
The idea for a terminal managed by landlocked Hungary in a European seaport came about a few years ago. Initially, the idea was to build it in Koper, Slovenia, but then the choice fell on Trieste. The facility will cover an area of 34 hectares, and rail freight will be at the heart of the project. In total, around 200 million euros will be invested, with 45 coming from the Trieste Port Authority.
Advantages for Silk Road traffic?
The future advantages of this terminal might not only be confined to Italy-Hungary traffic. Companies active in intermodal transport between Asia and Europe pointed out that such a terminal could be highly beneficial for Eurasian traffic. If ships arrive at the port of Trieste, forwarding the cargo via rail will be easier than, for example, doing it from Greek ports. Trains leaving Greece, in fact, need to cross non-EU countries, with all the additional administrative and operational burdens that come with it.
RailFreight Summit 2025
The port of Trieste will be speaking at the upcoming RailFreight Summit in Gdansk, Poland, on 8 and 9 April. During the event, the focus will be on the synergies between ports and railways in Europe, with an eye on technological developments and upcoming policies. You can check the programme here and register here.