DB Cargo Italia is closing a staff depot in Domodossola. Business at the Domo 2 facility has winded down significantly in recent years due to constant infrastructure works and a more competitive Gotthard Base Tunnel.
The reason for the closure is too small freight volumes in the Lötschberg-Simplon corridor, explains Emanuele Vender, managing director at DB Cargo Italia. From 2017 to 2024, net tonne volumes have declined by 43%.
Freight volumes have been heavily impacted by ongoing infrastructure works on both sides of the border, but specifically by those between Stresa and Arona in Italy. These works started last year and will continue at least until 2027, which is too long for business to cope.
Competition from Gotthard
What’s more, the Gotthard Base Tunnel has proven more competitive in this context, and has captured a lot of North-South volumes through Switzerland. “From a production efficiency point of view, Lötschberg-Simplon is at a disadvantage”, explains Vender. There isn’t any prospect that anything will change in the coming years.
As a result, the Domodossola only has recently seen only two rail services per week, which is not enough to justify keeping the staff depot open. The 15 employees will keep their jobs but will need to be transferred elsewhere.