The demand for rail passenger transport in Italy has shown a consistent upward trend from 2013 to 2019, with values increasing from 48.74 billion passenger kilometers to 56.59 billion, showing consistent positive year-on-year growth. However, 2020 experienced a sharp decline by 60.42%, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sector partially recovered in 2021 and continued to grow in 2022, reaching 50.41 billion passenger kilometers. As of 2023, the value stood at 57.75 billion, returning to pre-pandemic levels with a 14.55% year-on-year increase and a five-year CAGR of 0.8% from 2019 to 2023.
Future projections indicate steady growth from 2024 onwards, with values expected to reach 59.71 billion by 2028. The five-year CAGR from 2023 to 2028 is forecasted to be around 0.53%, with an overall growth rate of 2.68% over this period.
Future trends to watch for include the potential impact of environmental policies, technological advancements in high-speed rail, and shifts in commuter behavior due to remote working trends. The sustainability initiatives and infrastructural investments in the rail sector will also be critical to sustaining and boosting growth.
