ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON 14/10/2025 BY EUROMERCI
At the beginning of 2022, PortaleGenio took shape—a project born from a shared reflection with Engineer Eugenio Muzio on the state of intermodality in Europe and Italy. More than a decade after the publication of the European Union’s White Paper on Transport, the goals set for 2030 and 2050 still seem far off: the share of rail and combined transport remains well below expectations.
This awareness sparked the idea of creating a tool capable of bringing companies closer to intermodal logic, simplifying both understanding and adoption. PortaleGenio is now an innovative digital platform designed to visualize and analyze the entire freight transport ecosystem—terminals, ports, ro-ro lines, TEN-T corridors—and to provide practical tools for operators, businesses, and logistics professionals.
A project that blends technology, knowledge, and sustainability, positioning itself as a reference point for those who believe the future of logistics inevitably passes through intermodality.
We discussed it with Stefano Ronca, Business Development Manager of PortaleGenio.
When and why was PortaleGenio born?
Ronca: The project started in January 2022, from a conversation with Engineer Eugenio Muzio about how far the European Union’s targets for 2030 and 2050 still were, especially in terms of intermodal system usage in Europe and Italy. That’s when the idea emerged to create a tool that could support companies in the transition toward intermodality.
Your platform aims to spark attention and curiosity about intermodal transport in a simple, original, and intuitive way. How does it work, practically?
Ronca: You see, intermodality can seem complex to those approaching this segment for the first time. Terminals, rail connections, ports, ro-ro lines, TEN-T corridors… it’s an intricate ecosystem. Our intuition was simple: visualizing these core components greatly facilitates operational understanding. But we didn’t stop at beginners. This new representation—along with the simulations and analyses it enables—is also useful for seasoned professionals in the sector. These are people who daily need to optimize routes, assess alternatives, and seek partners. Having everything in one place, in a single platform, radically changes the way they work.
What services do you offer?
Ronca: PortaleGenio is the only platform where you can find, in one digital ecosystem:
-
355 technical profiles of intermodal terminals
-
1,300 rail connections
-
100 ports
-
360 ro-ro lines
-
Facilities across the 9 TEN-T corridors
-
27 European inland terminals
-
The 90 major airports on the continent
But it’s not just about numbers. You can also calculate CO₂ emissions for each journey, consult free trade agreements, and access a dedicated help desk for technical questions about intermodality. There’s a blog, interactive mapping, technical insights, and webinars. It’s a true hub of knowledge and operations.
Who are your potential clients/users?
Ronca: All logistics and transport operators: manufacturing companies, logistics providers, regional institutions, terminal operators, port and airport operators. But also consultants, students, and professionals who can benefit from the information available on PortaleGenio. Note that over 1,000 companies are already listed in the app. In other words, this means it’s easy to find partners across Europe and exponentially increase visibility for intermodal services.
You also play a key role in promoting the values of intermodality. Is the market finally mature enough to seize the opportunities of this transport model?
Ronca: For years, intermodal transport has been considered the most environmentally sustainable option for freight movement. As early as 2011, the European Transport White Paper set a goal of 30% rail freight share by 2030 and 50% by 2050. As we’ve mentioned, we’re still far from those goals, especially in Italy. But this is the right path. The recent upgrades to the European rail network, supported by National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) funds, will give a new boost in the coming years and open new opportunities for the intermodal market.
Your opinion on the state of intermodality in Italy?
Ronca: As already noted, Italy has historically lagged behind other countries in recognizing the benefits of intermodal transport—due in part to infrastructure issues and in part to a political environment more favorable to road transport. Our rail share sits around 12%, compared to the EU average of 17%. In 20 years, progress in Italy has been modest: from 10% in 2005 to 12% in 2023. So, there’s still a lot of work to do.
And your advice to policymakers?
Ronca: Historically, incentives for intermodal transport have been inconsistent and uncertain. We need instruments like Ferrobonus to become more structured, with clearly defined amounts and distribution methods. Additionally, it would be wise to recognize the essential role of terminals in the efficiency of the intermodal supply chain. Yet they’ve never been included in any incentive policies. Intermodal transport must stand out for its reliability and punctuality. The scheduling of works on the rail network plays a key role in determining the network’s capacity and constraints. There must be careful planning that does not always sacrifice freight for other transport modes.
There’s a saying: “Goods don’t vote.” But behind every shipment, there are people working hard, contributing to the competitiveness of our national system—that’s what they live off.
By Ornella Giola
READ THE ARTICLE ON EUROMERCI >>