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04. June 2025, 12:24 o'Clock
Article: End of RoLa 2025: Use sustainable logistics alternatives now
Switching with DB Cargo Full Load Solutions: flexible, environmentally friendly and reliable on intermodal trade lanes
End of the RoLa between Freiburg and Novara: new opportunities for sustainable and flexible freight transport with DB Cargo FLS
The logistics industry is facing major challenges with the imminent closure of the rolling highway (RoLa) between Freiburg and Novara at the end of 2025. The shutdown was originally planned for 2028, but unexpected infrastructural problems, economic difficulties at the operating company RAlpin and increasing uncertainty in the rail network have brought the decision forward. For freight forwarders, shippers and logistics decision-makers, this means they need to quickly start looking for sustainable, efficient alternatives.
What does this mean for your logistics?
Over the years, RoLa has created an important link in Europe that has enabled fast, safe and environmentally friendly transportation. Its discontinuation now threatens a shift back to road transport, higher costs and a potential disruption to the supply chain. DB Cargo Full Load Solutions (FLS), with its intermodal offering, provides an immediately available option to and from Italy that combines flexibility, efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Our solution: Intermodal trade lanes - the sustainable alternative
As a leading provider in the field of intermodal transport, DB Cargo FLS combines the advantages of rail and road transport to create a tailor-made solution. Our network enables containers and swap bodies to be transported efficiently and reliably on intermodal trains - in Europe and beyond. With departures on five transport days, our high-frequency intermodal trade lanes offer full flexibility.
We connect Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium as well as Scandinavia with important business locations in northern Italy. Our customers benefit from the weight advantages of intermodal transports with truck pre- and on-carriage, in a radius of up to 150 km.
| Our connections (from - to and vice versa) | |
|---|---|
Karlsruhe | Domodossola |
Ludwigshafen | Verona |
Hamburg | Verona/Busto Arsizio |
Lübeck | Milan/Verona |
Cologne | Bologna/Verona/Busto Arsizio |
Belgium/The Netherlands | Domodossola/Busto Arsizio |
South Sweden | Milan/Verona |
Finland | Milan/Verona |
The advantages at a glance:
- Time and cost savings: The integration of different modes of transport reduces transport times and optimizes logistics costs.
- High flexibility: Whether 45' containers, flats or box trailers - DB Cargo FLS offers suitable solutions for customer-specific requirements.
- Maximum traceability: Continuous monitoring of shipments ensures transparency and safety.
- Sustainability: The intermodal approach significantly reduces CO₂e emissions compared to pure road transport.
- Reliability: Fixed contingents and an extensive European network guarantee a stable supply.
- System advantage rail: Compared to pure truck transport, customers save on tolls, avoid rest periods, road closures and traffic jams.
Why act now?
With DB Cargo FLS, customers benefit from a reliable, future-proof service that is tailored to their individual needs. The teams in Germany and Italy are already working intensively on providing alternative offers to RoLa in order to ensure market stability and relieve the pressure on our customers' supply chains. Switching to existing connections, e.g. from Karlsruhe and Ludwigshafen, or Kaldenkirchen, Hamburg or Lübeck to Domodossola, Verona or Bologna (and vice versa) is possible at any time at short notice.
Conclusion:
The closure of the RoLa between Freiburg and Novara marks a turning point in European freight logistics. With DB Cargo Full Load Solutions, customers can rely on a future-proof, efficient and environmentally friendly alternative that makes supply chains resilient.
Contact us today to find out more about our intermodal trade lanes and optimize your individual logistics strategy!
More information about our connections to and from Italy, as well as many other intermodal connections in our network, can be found here: DB Cargo FLS Intermodal
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