Modalink, the joint venture of Lineas (70%) and FS Logistix (30%), has been officially inaugurated at Antwerp Mainhub Terminal. The partnership will manage terminal operations and expand intermodal services linking Belgium with Italy and Southern Europe.
The Antwerp Mainhub site handles up to 200,000 containers annually, with eight 700-metre tracks and three gantry cranes. Positioned inside the Port of Antwerp logistics cluster, the hub is expected to serve as an anchor for increased rail-based capacity away from congested road corridors.
The JV will support five weekly round trips between Antwerp and Milan, with onward connections to Pomezia, Marcianise and Catania. Modalink estimates reductions of 13,000 trucks per year and more than 46,000 tonnes of CO₂.
Lineas CEO Erik Van Ockenburg described the venture as a strategic continuation of the operator’s focus on core traction services. FS Logistix CEO Sabrina De Filippis pointed to steady volume growth since the launch phase and highlighted terminals as the key link in enabling modal shift.
The launch drew political representation from Belgium and Italy, including Italian ambassador Federica Favi, who framed the corridor’s development in the context of current geopolitical pressures and supply chain resilience. Belgian Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke emphasised the need for continued government alignment to support reliable European rail freight operations.
The joint venture reflects rising EU-level focus on North–South freight connectivity, particularly between Belgian maritime gateways and Italian inland terminals, where rail’s role is expanding as congestion and emissions targets drive modal shift.
