Railway passenger traffic in Spain experienced significant fluctuations over the past decade. Following a relatively stable period from 2013 to 2019 with an annual average growth of 1.9%, traffic plummeted in 2020 due to the pandemic, dropping by nearly half. A subsequent recovery phase was observed between 2021 and 2022, with substantial growth rates of 25.53% and 32.41% respectively. However, a decline was recorded in 2023 by 7.6%, positioning the traffic volume at 512.04 million units.
From 2024 onwards, the forecast indicates a gradual decline, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.81% over the following five years. By 2028, railway passenger traffic is expected to decrease to 486.54 million units, marking an overall forecasted reduction of 4% from 2023.
Future trends to watch for include potential technological advancements, shifts in travel behavior post-pandemic, and policy measures promoting sustainable transportation, which could impact the long-term trajectory of railway passenger traffic in Spain.