Italian intermodal company Contship started the procedures to expand the Ravano container terminal at the port of La Spezia, on the Italian northwestern coast. With this terminal, the company said it aims to increase its TEU capacity from 1,4 to 2 million. Rail is expected to play a key role, as mentioned by Contiship’s CEO Matthieu Gasselin.

Contship recently published a tender for 90 million euros for the upgrade of the Ravano terminal and will receive proposals until 3 September. Construction is expected to start in December and last roughly two years, meaning the facility should become operational by the end of 2026.

Rail freight to be a key factor in La Spezia

It is not yet clear what the Ravano terminal expansion will look like, but rail freight should be at the centre of the project as Contship wants to move 50 per cent of its throughput. The Ravano terminal is part of the La Spezia Container Terminal (LSCT) conglomerate, which Contship manages.

In 2022, LSCT obtained 160 million euros to strengthen the rail infrastructure of the port of La Spezia. The port itself is also working on increasing the share of rail freight. For example, the Eastern Ligurian Sea Port Authority received 9 million euros from the Connecting Europe Facility to develop the new La Spezia Marittima rail terminal.

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