For steel transports between Chiasso and Desio in Lombardy, SBB Cargo recently started a cooperation with Ferrovie Nord Milano Esercizio (FNME) a newcomer among the Italian railways in the freight business, but with already a long tradition in interurban public transport.

FNME shows, already after the very first months, full satisfaction at the way the new alliance is developing.
«We are very satisfied with the cooperation with SBB, which as from 18 May will include a second service from Novara to Valenton (Paris), initially with three services per week. Our trains will pass the border points of Domodossola and Basel before entering French territory. This service, for which SBB will provide traction on Swiss lines, concerns combined traffic, mostly containers of forwarders, handled by Eurocombi, the specialised operator in which FNME has a controlling stake of 76 percent.»

In the first months of operation, the quality of the service was remarkable. 90 percent of the trains from Chiasso to Desio, and 91 percent of the trains from Desio to Chiasso were punctual or within the tolerated margin of 1 hour from schedule.
«Indeed the only misperformances were due to administrative and not operational problems, so we are fully satisfied, also because we intend to strengthen cooperation and to extend the business. We are particularly thankful to the members of the SBB staff with which we have initiated and now maintain direct relations of cooperation.»

As mentioned, FNME has ambitious projects for the continuation of its freight activity.
«Our intention is to be active in the transport of all the different kinds of goods, and we already are strong in the specialised transport of clay, as well as in combined transport which is the sector where there is the most competition, with small profit margins. It is the most insidious and difficult sector, but also the one where one can learn the most. But there is no sector which we exclude a priori. The transport of automobiles, for instance, is a next target. However, we are extremely pragmatical, and are waiting for concrete opportunities before launching on pindaric flights», says Morfino, General Director of FN Cargo and of Eurocombi.

«In addition, we help companies in bringing forward dedicated projects. For example, our sister company FNM Ingegneria is in a position to realise projects for the last mile connection. Our forces are grouped together in a frame of a general strategic design aimed at a shift of freight traffic from road to rail. The basic objective is certainly not to take business away from existing operators, but much rather to extend a market which has an enormous potential of growth.»

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Ferrovie Nord Milano Esercizio (FNME)