Italy Shuttle is being used by DB Cargo Full Load Solutions to connect Italian industrial regions with markets in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The service pairs daily departures with road-based collection and delivery, creating a multimodal transport option between Italy and northwestern Europe.

Italy Shuttle links road and rail freight
Photo: DB Cargo AG / FLS

Italy Shuttle connects road and rail transport

In practice, DB Cargo Full Load Solutions operates the service around a straightforward road-rail structure. Trucks cover the first and last mile, while rail takes over for the main leg of the journey across the corridor.

DB Cargo FLS says the Italy Shuttle can handle both full loads and part loads of up to 25 tonnes. In its official logistics note on the DB Cargo FLS Italy Shuttle, the company gives transit times of around six to eight days, depending on the final destination.

Dinazzano and Limburg anchor the freight route

Tile transport from Italy for a German DIY retail chain shows how the setup works. Goods are collected by truck from three production sites and moved to the Dinazzano terminal, where they are transferred onto Tamns wagons for the rail section.

From Dinazzano, the rail leg runs on fixed departures to the Limburg terminal in Germany. Once the freight is unloaded in Limburg, trucks take it on to the final delivery points; temporary storage can also be used when shipments need to meet fixed delivery windows.

The service covers several cargo categories, including palletised goods, building materials, bulk products, household appliances and big bags. That mix keeps the corridor oriented toward different freight types rather than a single commodity flow.

New Dinazzano storage supports tile supply chains

DB Cargo FLS is also expanding logistics capacity at the Italian end of the corridor. In 2025, a new clay storage facility was launched in Dinazzano, in the Sassuolo ceramic district, to support more stable supply chains for the tile industry.

The site covers about 2,000 square metres and can hold up to 12,000 tonnes of material. It is intended to help manage seasonal demand, short-term customer needs and disruptions in the transport chain.