In 2024, Russia leads global national railway passenger traffic with 122.1 billion passenger kilometers, despite a slight 0.36% decline from 2023. Germany and France follow with 97.22 and 86.61 billion passenger kilometers, showing modest growth of 0.87% and 0.65%, respectively. Italy has experienced a strong 1.31% increase to 58.53 billion passenger kilometers. Ukraine saw a notable 3.97% decrease to 22.44 billion passenger kilometers, while Poland grew by 1.11% to 21.9 billion.
Switzerland, Kazakhstan, and the Netherlands hover around 17 to 19 billion passenger kilometers, with minor growth except for the Netherlands, which saw a 0.14% decline. Sweden's 1.09% increase brings it to 13.79 billion. Central and Eastern European countries like the Czech Republic and Hungary exhibit stable growth patterns.
Conversely, countries such as Bulgaria, Belarus, and Macedonia face declines in traffic volume, reflecting broader economic or infrastructural challenges. Estonia's railway passenger traffic noted a strong 2.27% growth, highlighting emerging transport trends in the Baltics. Azerbaijan and Croatia, with significant drops of 7.02% and 9.04%, indicate ongoing difficulties.
Future trends to watch:
- Enhanced railway infrastructure investments in Western Europe, likely boosting traffic.- Eastern Europe and former Soviet republics might struggle without significant economic or policy changes.- Increased environmental concerns driving growth in rail travel, notably in Scandinavia and Central Europe.- Potential geopolitical impacts on railway usage, especially in Eastern Europe.
Top countries in National Railway Passenger Traffic by Country
| # | 10 Countries | Million Passenger Kilometers | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Russia | 122,100 | 2023 | -0.0048% | -0.36% | View data |
| 2 | 2 Germany | 97,220 | 2023 | +0.93% | +0.87% | View data |
| 3 | 3 France | 86,610 | 2023 | +0.48% | +0.65% | View data |
| 4 | 4 Italy | 58,530 | 2023 | +1.39% | +1.31% | View data |
| 5 | 5 Ukraine | 22,440 | 2023 | -4.33% | -3.97% | View data |
| 6 | 6 Poland | 21,900 | 2023 | +1.3% | +1.11% | View data |
| 7 | 7 Switzerland | 19,240 | 2023 | +0.25% | +0.38% | View data |
| 8 | 8 Kazakhstan | 17,670 | 2023 | +1.29% | +1.31% | View data |
| 9 | 9 Netherlands | 17,670 | 2023 | +0.017% | -0.14% | View data |
| 10 | 10 Sweden | 13,790 | 2023 | +1.14% | +1.09% | View data |
