The initiative was outlined during an official visit of Alberto Cirio, President of the Piedmont Region, and Marco Bucci, President of the Liguria Region, at the Port of Savona-Vado. Addressing local authorities and port stakeholders, Tito Vespasiani, Secretary General of the Port Authority, sets out the strategic direction underpinning recent investments and policy measures designed to strengthen rail freight operations.
Vespasiani emphasised the importance of greater integration between port infrastructure, the national rail network and inland logistics systems. This approach is intended to enhance the efficiency and reliability of rail connections, thereby supporting continued growth in cargo volumes across the Savona–Vado hub, a key gateway for supply chains serving Northern Italy and Southern Europe.
In recent years, the Port Authority has delivered a series of significant infrastructure and digital projects. These include the expansion of rolling stock (P.711), optimisation of track layouts under the NRRP-backed P.811 scheme, and the deployment of advanced automation and control systems for shunting operations (P.809). In parallel, digital innovations under project P.810 have improved container tracking and streamlined the integration of data flows across the logistics chain. Further developments are also planned within the Port of Savona.
Taken together, these investments have enhanced operational capacity, efficiency and safety, reinforcing the role of rail as a credible and sustainable alternative to road haulage. However, structural constraints persist, particularly on infrastructure managed by RFI. Key challenges include the limited capacity of the Savona Parco Doria rail yard and the need to upgrade the Savona–Turin line to accommodate freight trains of up to at least 600 metres in length.
