The rail passenger transport in the US experienced significant fluctuations from 2013 to 2023. Before the pandemic in 2020, the sector saw minor declines starting from 2014, with sharper drops in 2017 and 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic fall in 2020, with volumes dropping by 62.45%. Post-pandemic recovery has been gradual, with varying year-on-year growth rates. In 2023, the value stood at 21.15 billion passenger kilometers, slightly less than in 2022. The CAGR over the last five years showed an average decline of 8.36%. Forecasts predict a modest annual growth rate of 1.33% until 2028, with a total growth of 6.85% over this period.
Future trends to watch for include adoption of high-speed rail, advancements in rail technology, shifts in passenger preferences due to environmental concerns, and impacts of potential economic fluctuations. Expansions of rail infrastructure and urbanization trends could also positively influence rail passenger movements.
