On 30 May 2025, Interporto Padova published the international call for tenders to select a partner to help develop and enhance the intermodal terminal. The initiative is designed to strengthen the inland terminal’s role as a key node in Europe’s intermodal freight flows, building on the investments already made in infrastructure, digitalisation and automation.
The tender, approved by the board of directors, has already been published on the company’s website. The deadline for submitting bids is set for 30 September 2025. What is at stake is not simply the acquisition of assets, but entry into a new operational company, Intermodal Terminal Padova, to which the entire terminal division of Interporto Padova will be transferred.
The project foresees Interporto Padova retaining a 30 percent stake in the new company, thereby maintaining an active role in governance—with a representative on the board of directors and the chairman of the board of auditors—as well as in the strategic oversight of operations. Among the most significant provisions of the articles of association is the obligation to preserve the intermodal function of the site, regardless of future changes in the corporate structure. This safeguard, strongly advocated by public shareholders, reaffirms the project’s public interest.
The base value for the stake on offer, representing 70 percent of the new company, has been set at 60 million euros. The partner will be selected based on the most economically advantageous offer, a criterion that goes beyond price to focus primarily on the quality and sustainability of the proposed industrial plan. “This is not a property sale, but the launch of an industrial project aimed at leveraging the expertise and commercial connections of the selected partner to significantly increase intermodal traffic,” explained Luciano Greco, president of Interporto Padova.
The tender also addresses employment considerations: current terminal staff will keep their positions within the new company, with opportunities for professional growth and contractual continuity. According to Greco, the goal is to grow from the current 8,000 trains per year to over 15,000, with annual container volumes rising from 411,000 to around 700,000 TEUs. This will be achieved by making the most of existing infrastructure, enhanced through the digital and automated systems already in place at the terminal.
Promotion of the initiative will continue at Transport Logistic in Munich, Europe’s leading trade fair for the sector. Interporto Padova will participate with its own stand and will formally present the tender to major international operators during a dedicated event. “We have already received a great deal of interest in our initiative,” Greco concluded.
