Intermodality in Italy during the Fascist period: a Case Study

In the 1930s, when the competition among trucks and trains started, the Fascist government in Italy tried to implement a first form of road-rail integration. As a result, in this period, a transport intermodal network existed for transport services for both freights and passengers. However, the network was quickly lost after the Second World War. The research objective of this paper regards the method of construction of a first form of intermodality (even before this term was used), through the analysis of theoretical texts and achievements of the era. The paper examines laws and regulations issued by the Fascist government. It shows how the willingness to implement a transport policy would lead to having coordinated transport. The success was not only political but also economic, as the coordinated transport may be cheaper and more effective.