FS Group and Amazon Collaborate on Train Connections

The FS Group, in collaboration with Amazon, will operate 15 trains per week between Germany and Italy to promote long-distance transport and the shift of goods from road to rail. According to the FS Group, the routes from Duisburg to Pomezia and from Herne to Verona could contribute to this at full capacity.

(Rome/Duisburg) The logistics sector continues to work on achieving greater efficiency through the use of rail and reducing carbon emissions. Mercitalia Logistics, the head of the logistics division of the FS Italiane Group, and Amazon have signed an agreement for the transport of goods between Amazon’s logistics centers in Germany and Italy.

This new agreement aims to reduce international road freight transport and decrease both carbon dioxide emissions and congestion on major European roads. The project will also help Amazon optimize warehouse processing and shorten delivery times.

Potential Savings of Up to 9,000 Tons of CO2

The schedule of the FS Group includes three trains per week from Duisburg to Pomezia, operated by Mercitalia Intermodal, as well as six round trips between Herne and Verona, operated by TX Logistik. According to the FS Group, these routes could help avoid up to 9,000 tons of CO2 emissions from international road freight transport per year at full capacity.

“This agreement with Amazon underscores Mercitalia Logistics’ commitment to collaborating with companies that enable more sustainable transport options. These rail connections to and from Germany align with our strategic plan in line with the European rail freight sector’s goal of achieving 30% of rail transport by 2030,” said Sabrina De Filippis, CEO of Mercitalia Logistics. “We are constantly working to introduce advanced technologies such as the digital automatic coupling of freight cars or the digitization of warehouses, which help reduce emissions associated with logistics operations while ensuring high service quality. In 2022, we were able to avoid around 1.8 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions across our entire company thanks to our integrated sustainable logistics model.”

“Given the particular geographical conformity of its territory, Italy is one of the countries that can benefit the most from the growth of intermodal rail transport,” commented Lorenzo Barbo, Managing Director of Amazon Logistics in Italy. “We are pleased to collaborate with Mercitalia Logistics of the FS Group to further expand the use of rail for transporting inventory between our European facilities and bring products closer to customers’ homes. The agreement signed between Amazon and Mercitalia Logistics in 2021 was an initial and important step that helped shorten delivery times and reduce our transport-related emissions,” Lorenzo Barbo concluded.

Connecting Two Major Logistics Hubs

The Duisburg-Pomezia and Herne-Verona routes represent a strategic link for the FS Group, connecting two of the most important logistics hubs in Germany with Northern and Central Italy.

Photo: © TX Logistik