Milan Malpensa trials parcel transport via passenger train

Milan Malpensa airport is trialling a scheme to move small freight shipments into Milan by rail rather than road. The project involves DHL Express Italy and companies from the FNM group. According to the parties involved, two initial tests have already gone well, and they now plan to assess whether the approach could work on a permanent basis.

Under the trial, parcels first travel by electric vehicle from a DHL hub to a rail station at Terminal 1. From there they go by the Malpensa Express service to Milano Cadorna. Final delivery is again handled by electric vehicle. The tests use trains departing before 6am, when passenger numbers are low, so as not to disrupt regular commuters.

The project has European Union funding. It is meant to examine whether shifting some freight from road to rail can cut truck traffic, emissions and congestion around the airport and the city. No timeline was given for a decision on permanent adoption, and the organisers did not say how much cargo volume the scheme could eventually handle.