Frejus and AFA facilitate Italy-France highway Connection
Frejus Railway Transit: The Goods Are Back, But At What Cost?
Here we go, back to normal - or so it seems - with the reopening of the Frejus railway transit. But it ain't all peachy. These days, moving goods ain't as simple as it used to be. A study by Uniontrasporti reveals a daily export quota of 8,000 tons on the Frejus railway axis, a quota that's been static since August 2023. As a result, many goods have hit the road or opted for alternative routes, like the Gotthard, leading to increased travel distances and the addition of customs hassles.
At the center of the drama is the Alpine Rail Highway (ARH) project, which, in recent years, has guaranteed a considerable share of freight transport by rail and intermodality along the route towards France. A service that's pricey due to the complexities of the historic Frejus tunnel, with its steep slope, and that's been subsidized by the two nations - Italy and France - to the tune of around 3.5 million each annually.
But lo and behold, the ARH has been out of commission for 19 long months, and it's uncertain if it'll roar back to life anytime soon. Enzo Pompilio D'Alicandro, executive vice president of SITO Spa, doesn't sugarcoat it: "The line's open, but the problem is whether and when the ARH service, primarily used for transporting hazardous goods, will resume operations. The technical feasibility is uncertain, and we know that Rfi has granted track availability, but we're also facing the problem of the resources the States will need to allocate."
A possible restart is set for July 1st, but delays of up to six more months are a real concern. This Limbo has left around 25 SITO employees on furlough, with their 52 weeks of unemployment benefits about to expire. "Reaching July or December is a serious problem because these people work on the Afa service and have been effectively idle since August 2023," adds Pompilio. This is a crisis that needs addressing to avoid job losses and skill drain.
Ambrogio Trasporti is one of the few market operators using freight transport by rail on the Frejus. They resumed operations more than two weeks ago following the transit's reopening. "It's been a long 19 months of passion, with an interruption that cost us an additional 4 million euros in increased travel distances and transport times. We haven't received any compensation or aid from anyone," states Ambrogio Trasporti.
Things happening elsewhere in the region might offer a glimmer of hope. The Tenda road tunnel, linking Piedmont in Italy to France, is scheduled to reopen on June 27th, 2025, after extensive works and repair following storm damage[1]. While it's a vital cross-border route and impacts regional connectivity, there's no direct mention of the ARH in the available sources. However, reopening major transport links typically helps improve freight transport efficiency and creates or sustains jobs in logistics, construction, and related sectors.
In the end, we can only hope for swift action to get the ARH up and running again, ensuring livelihoods and efficient goods transport in the region. Keep your fingers crossed and watch this space for updates.
The uncertainty over the resumption of the Alpine Rail Highway (ARH) service, a key player in the transportation industry, has raised concerns about increased travel distances and additional customs hassles for goods, potentially affecting the finance sector through increased transport costs. The delay in the ARH's restart could lead to job losses and skill drain in logistics and related sectors, as the service plays a crucial role in the efficient transportation of goods.
