The international railway passenger traffic in Germany has experienced significant fluctuations over the past decade, with notable declines during 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a recovery in 2022, traffic stood at 4.64 billion passenger kilometers in 2023, a decrease of 19.16% from the previous year and indicating a negative CAGR of -1.69% over the last five years. Forecasted data suggest a consistent slight decline of 0.54% CAGR from 2024 to 2028, with values tapering down to 4.48 billion passenger kilometers by 2028.

Future trends to watch for include:

Impacts of climate policies and environmental considerations on railway transportation.
Technological advancements, such as high-speed trains and digitalization, affecting passenger preferences.
Post-pandemic recovery trends and shifts in travel behavior and commute patterns.