Milan’s OLGA rail-air intermodal logistics trial
Following the positive results of two tests in July and August, the trial of a new intermodal logistics model combining rail transport and electric road vehicles to transport small shipments between Milano Malpensa Airport and central Milan is continuing.
It is part of the European OLGA (hOListic & Green Airports) project, an initiative co-funded by the European Union to support the development and testing of innovative solutions aimed at decarbonising the airport and transport systems.
The trial, known as SPOT (Smart Parcels On Train) and promoted and coordinated by SEA Milan Airports, an OLGA project partner, involved DHL Express Italy and several companies controlled by or affiliated with the Ferrovie Nord Milano train operating group. The aim is to assess the operational feasibility of a new solution for transporting small shipments from Milano Malpensa Airport to central Milan, combining rail and electric road vehicles.
The tests simulated the journey of a shipment destined for urban distribution. The small consignment was collected from the DHL Express Italy hub on the south side of Malpensa Airport and transported by electric vehicle to the railway station at Terminal 1, where it was loaded onto a Malpensa Express train to Milano Cadorna, in downtown Milano. During both tests, a service departing before 6:00, when passenger numbers are low, was selected, ensuring that the trial had no impact on passengers. Upon arrival, the consignment was transferred to a second electric vehicle for final delivery to the nearby DHL Express Italy.
Milano Malpensa Terminal 1 station
The initiative aims to assess the possibility of using the existing rail connection between Malpensa and Milan to transport small shipments, using trains with lower passenger loads.
The trial will provide an opportunity to further assess the operational feasibility of the model and evaluate its potential benefits, including a reduction in road transport, CO₂ emissions and road congestion. The results of the test are being analysed to identify the conditions for the potential further development of the project and its ability to be replicated, both at Milano Malpensa and in other airports and urban contexts.
IARO Express 663 had the most recent report on Malpensa.
Source Cargo Airports and Airline Services (CAAS) – caasint.com
MetroLink to St Louis MidAmerica Airport complete but not yet open
St Louis’ light rail system now connects the region’s two commercial airports. MetroLink recently completed its 8.5km extension of the Red Line (scctd.org) from near Scott Air Force Base to MidAmerica St Louis Airport. It will open in the next 2-4 months.
A Metrolink train at the main airport, St Louis Lambert, going to the current eastern terminus at Shiloh-Scott
The extension cost $154 million, to which the St Clair County Transit District contributed $65 million. The state contributed $127 million to this project and two others (stlpr.org) near MidAmerica through the Rebuild Illinois (idot.illinois.gov) Capital Program. While downtown St Louis is in the state of Missouri, MidAmerica airport is in Illinois.
Construction work on the extension started in 2023 (scctd.org) and was due to be complete in 2024. However, supply chain issues and inflation (stlpr.org) slowed the contractors building the track. Construction of the extension was complete early this year, but St Clair County Transit District and MetroLink officials have been testing the line to guarantee its safety the last few months.
The other two projects near MidAmerica include the opening of a 7km extension (stlpr.org) of the transit district’s bike trail system that runs adjacent to the light rail track. The $6 million extension opened to the public in June. The second included a 4km extension of MidAmerica’s frontage road which cost $32 million and is expected to attract more businesses to the area.
MetroLink also completed a nearly two-year buildout to close the public transit system (stlpr.org) , installing turnstiles and gates at all other 38 platforms. The system has previously been open and did not require riders to scan a ticket.
IARO Express 640 reported on the start of construction.
Sources STIPR (stlpr.org ) and the IARO database
Enhancements in hand at Manchester Airport station
A £115 million investment at Manchester Airport station (networkrail.co.uk) will start this winter to improve future connectivity at one of the Britain’s most important transport hubs: it saw over 5.5m passengers in the year April 2024 – March 2025 and was the 93^rd busiest station in the country.
Network Rail and its contractor Kier will deliver the significant upgrades between now and 2028. The investment will see platforms 1, 2 and 3 extended to allow more trains to serve them, upgrades to track layouts on the approach to the station, and signalling systems upgraded and modernised. For future rail passengers, the upgrades will create additional capacity, support the operation of more trains and help deliver more reliable and efficient journeys.
The project is part of the wider Manchester Rail Upgrade, to build a bigger, more reliable and better-connected railway for millions of passengers across the North West. It will also support future passenger growth and improve connections to the airport, helping to strengthen the role of the airport – a founder member of IARO - as a gateway for business, tourism and international travel.
The first major stage of the programme will take place on Sunday 6 December 2026, when Manchester Airport station will be temporarily closed for the day. During this time, engineers will install a utility bridge across the railway to house electrical cables. This will allow a bridge structure used by Manchester Airport Group to be removed at Easter 2027, before a new one is constructed later in the year. Network Rail is working closely with Manchester Airport Group, Transport for Greater Manchester and train operators to minimise disruption and keep customers moving throughout the closure.
Manchester Airport Station throat
Rail replacement buses will operate between Wilmslow and Manchester Airport, with additional staff on hand to assist customers throughout the day. Metrolink services will not be affected by the work. Passengers planning to travel to or from Manchester Airport by rail are encouraged to check their journey before travelling and allow extra time. For more information on the project, please visit: www.networkrail.co.uk/manchester-airport-station
IARO Express 686 had a brief report on the project.
Sources Rail Business Daily (news.railbusinessdaily.com ) and the IARO database
Rail link for Campina Grande
The Ministry of Transport has started construction of a light rail line through Campina Grande, in the north-east of Brazil.
In early 2025, it agreed to transfer 15.5km of the closed metre gauge Transnordestina railway to the city council, and construction of a €28m line started later that year.
The north-south route is to have 10 stops and serve the city’s airport: it is likely to open next year.
Sources Tramways and Urban Transit and the IARO database
New Gujarat airport to have passenger and cargo rail links
Dholera International Airport, some 50km south of Ahmedabad, is in its final construction phase, with over 80% of the project completed. Start of operations was planned for September -October, but this did not happen: no new date is available. Integrated with the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), the airport is expected to strengthen manufacturing, logistics, semiconductor and aerospace industries while driving demand for industrial, commercial and residential real estate.
The runway, taxiway and Air Traffic Control tower along with other core airside facilities are now fully built, while the construction of the passenger terminal is around 75% complete.
Connectivity is one of the key features of Dholera International Airport. The airport connects with the wider Dholera region through the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway (dholeratimes.com) , improving road access from Ahmedabad and Dholera SIR. A planned rail corridor will also connect Ahmedabad with Dholera, with the proposed airport station positioned close to the terminal. This will create a multi-modal transport network combining road, rail and air connectivity.
It is expected to transform the emerging industrial city into one of India’s largest manufacturing and logistics hubs. Immediate demand will concentrate on industrial and logistics land - warehouses, cargo-linked yards and MRO support facilities driven by dedicated cargo capacity, direct rail links and highway access. Plots near the cargo terminal and planned rail spur will attract the largest premium as manufacturing and distribution players seek build-to-suit space. Residential demand for mid-market housing and rental product will rise with workforce inflows, prompting developers to fast-track integrated townships within a 20-40 km radius.
Air connectivity, dedicated cargo infrastructure and seamless links with highways and high-speed rail are likely to accelerate industrial development, boost logistics efficiency while supporting demand for commercial, warehousing and residential real estate in the region. And as semiconductor, aerospace and advanced manufacturing investments gather pace, the airport is expected to play a central role in positioning Dholera as one of India's most important emerging economic hubs.
IARO Express 692 had an earlier report.
Sources Magic Bricks (magicbricks.com ) Dholerat Times (dholeratimes.com ) and the IARO database