Joint venture between Innofreight and MSC strengthens Trieste as an industrial location and supports the European Green Deal. Once fully operational, 1,000 new wagons and 3,000 bogies will be manufactured here every year from 2027.
July 2 marks a milestone for European rail logistics: the first newly produced 80 ft InnoWagons have left the Innoway Trieste plant. Over 300 guests—including employees, international customers, political representatives, and industry leaders—celebrated the symbolic handover of the first two wagons to Yellow2Rail and Papierholz Austria. By 2027, Europe’s most modern freight car factory will be built in Trieste. When fully operational, the factory will produce over 1,000 lightweight cars and up to 3,000 state-of-the-art bogies annually. This will make a significant contribution to the modernization of European rail freight transport, reducing emissions and shifting transport from road to rail.
Innoway Trieste is backed by a strong industrial partnership: Innofreight, a leading provider of innovative rail logistics solutions, and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company are joining forces to build a state-of-the-art production center for European rail freight transport. Their shared vision is to provide modern, sustainable transport solutions that meet the growing demand for efficient and low-emission logistics.
InnoBogie at the heart of the 80 ft InnoWaggon
Together, they are transforming the historic Wärtsilä ship engine factory in Trieste into a modern production site for freight wagons, including the newly introduced 80 ft InnoWaggon in lightweight construction. The latest member of the InnoWaggon family closes a gap in the product range and is designed to enable even more efficient transport of biomass, wood chips, other light bulk goods, and ISO and refrigerated containers. The 80 ft InnoWaggon is also particularly well suited for transporting finished products from the paper, wood, and construction materials industries. The InnoBogie bogie, also manufactured in Trieste, will be the heart of the new wagon and will significantly increase the payload. It is 25 percent lighter than previous models and, thanks to state-of-the-art welding robots, is based on 100 percent automation, thus guaranteeing consistently high quality.
The excellent location in the industrial area of Trieste, the direct rail connection, and a skilled workforce of 254 employees provide the ideal conditions for this joint project. A total of around 260 skilled jobs will be secured and developed in the region. Currently, around 50 employees are working on site. In the coming months, additional colleagues will return from short-time work (CIGS) to participate in phase II and ongoing operations. Supported by the EU-funded GOL project, they will benefit from targeted training in welding technology, quality management, production, and soft skills. Both partners—MSC and Innofreight—are contributing their expertise and networks to further strengthen the local team.
Production phase I—safety, quality, and ramp-up
With a clear focus on safety, quality, and efficiency, the team is starting to assemble the first railcars from prefabricated components. Step by step, production is being ramped up and further manufacturing steps—from welding and painting to final assembly—are being integrated into the plant. By 2027, Innoway Trieste will reach full capacity and establish itself as a European pioneer in modern railcar construction.
Innoway Trieste supports the transition to more environmentally friendly and efficient transport solutions, thereby contributing to the strengthening of regional industry and the goals of the European Green Deal. The location on the Adriatic Sea connects southern ports with the inland markets along the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor, strengthening European supply chains while reducing emissions. “We’re not just building railcars here – we’re building Europe’s sustainable future,” explained managing directors Andrea Castino and Johann Gruber. The importance of Innoway Trieste for the city and the surrounding Friuli-Venezia Giulia region had become clear the evening before. Representatives of the region had hosted a festive reception to familiarize Innofreight’s international customers with the advantages of this business location and thus initiate possible further cooperation.