Freight transport between Europe and Turkey is experiencing a dynamic phase, also benefiting from geopolitical turbulence that has redirected traffic along a corridor passing through the Eurasian country. In this context, the Treviso-based international transport company Codognotto increased these intermodal routes at the start of 2025, focusing on new maritime and rail connections for freight transport.
The new short-sea shipping package includes three departure and arrival points in Italy: Trieste, Bari, and Venice. These ports provide direct links to key Turkish destinations, including Istanbul, Izmir, and Mersin, with an additional option for an intermediate stop at the port of Patras. This network offers businesses greater flexibility in import-export operations, reducing transit times compared to traditional road routes and lowering operational costs.
On the rail front, Codognotto has strengthened its connections with a new direct route linking Vienna to the Halkali terminal, Turkey’s main hub for international freight transport. With five weekly departures and a transit time of just four days, this solution strikes an optimal balance between speed and economic competitiveness. The expansion of the rail network also allows for extended connections not only with Italy and Austria but also with other key European economic centres such as Poland, Germany, and France.
Intermodality is not limited to traffic between Turkey and Central Europe. Thanks to the synergy between rail transport and short-sea shipping, the United Kingdom can also be connected, using the port of Rotterdam as a strategic logistics hub. This expansion opens up new opportunities for companies operating along the so-called Southern Silk Road, a trade corridor that is becoming increasingly significant for exchanges between Europe and Asia.
