The number of rail passengers in Canada showed notable fluctuations between 2013 and 2023. There was a general upward trend from 2016 to 2019, peaking in 2019 with 5.1 million passengers. The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted passenger numbers in 2020, dropping to 1.13 million, but there was a significant rebound by 2023, reaching 5.13 million passengers. The year-on-year growth in 2023 saw a 19.67% increase over the previous year, with a 1.17% CAGR over the last five years. Future forecasts predict a steady increase, with an estimated 5.38 million passengers by 2028, yielding a 0.77% CAGR.

Future trends to watch for:

Technological advancements in rail services.
Environmental policies promoting rail travel over other forms of transportation.
Potential impacts of new rail infrastructure projects.
Market demand shifts due to changes in commuter and tourism patterns.