Italia-Croatia

21/05/2026

We are pleased to announce that our ongoing efforts to improve cross-border logistics have been highlighted in the latest issue (4/2026) of Ingegneria Ferroviaria, a premier magazine dedicated to the railway sector.

The article details the development and implementation of ScanRail, a new digital tool designed to overcome long-standing barriers in the Italy-Croatia transport region.

Currently, the rail freight transport scenario between Italy and Croatia experiences a significant mismatch between user demand and supply. A primary cause of this gap is the lack of visibility and transparency regarding rail transport opportunities.

Users often face private, opaque negotiation procedures within a complex, multi-stakeholder architecture involving railway companies, terminal operators, and infrastructure managers. These highly "national" frameworks have historically discouraged the use of rail transport in favor of less sustainable options.

To address these critical issues, project partner CFLI (Intermodal Training and Logistics Center) has developed a cross-border digital tool known as ScanRail.

Built upon a shared cross-border methodology and extensive data collection between Italy and Croatia, ScanRail provides rail service information to operators in a consolidated, standardized, and transparent manner. The tool captures vital data across various multimodal connections (direct, indirect, maritime, and land), including:

• Origins and Destinations

• Departure, Arrival, and Transit Times

• Transit Distances

• Cost Estimates

• Emissions Tracking

During the development phase, the data collection process highlighted existing bottlenecks, particularly the limited availability of information on the Croatian side. By directly addressing these blind spots, ScanRail is currently being integrated into our main digital platform to ensure it is highly accessible and user-friendly for all transport users.

Ultimately, this digital tool empowers operators to abandon time-consuming, manual procedures. With a simple click, stakeholders gain a comprehensive overview of cross-border rail freight services, streamlining decision-making processes and significantly boosting the attractiveness of rail transport in the region.

Acknowledgments:  The featured article was authored by M. Mazzarimo (Department of Project Cultures, IUAV University of Venice) in support of the activities led by CFLI. We invite you to read the full feature in the April 2026 issue of Ingegneria Ferroviaria to learn more about the technical methodologies driving this initiative.