France leads European national railway passenger traffic in 2023, with a modest 0.34% growth to 21.03 million passenger kilometers. Germany follows with 19.22, despite a -3.49% decline. The UK sees a 1.91% rise to 18.36. Italy at 11.59 and Spain at 6.29 both declined, by -2.88% and -1.6% respectively. Smaller markets like Poland (-2.72%), Switzerland (-2.52%), and Sweden (-2.64%) also faced reductions.
Austria and the Czech Republic experienced declines of -2.08% and -2.11%, respectively. Denmark bucks the trend with a 0.65% increase. Romania declined by -1.01%, while, Portugal faced a -2.6% downturn. Norway and Slovakia saw notable decreases of -3.41% and -4.22%, respectively. Ireland experienced the highest drop at -6.51%, joined by Bulgaria (-5.86%) and Greece (-3.71%). Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Macedonia all reported declines, some significantly so.
Future trends to watch include the adoption of green technologies and digitalization in railway services, competition from low-cost airlines, and the impacts of governmental policies on public transport investment and sustainability goals. Increased international coordination for cross-border railway services could also shape the future landscape.
Top countries in National Railway Passenger Traffic Share by Country (Million Passenger Kilometers)
| # | 10 Countries | Percent | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 France | 21.03 | 2023 | -9.93% | +0.34% | View data |
| 2 | 2 Germany | 19.22 | 2023 | -9.95% | -3.49% | View data |
| 3 | 3 United Kingdom | 18.36 | 2023 | +1.59% | +1.91% | View data |
| 4 | 4 Italy | 11.59 | 2023 | +3.54% | -2.88% | View data |
| 5 | 5 Spain | 6.29 | 2023 | -5.54% | -1.6% | View data |
| 6 | 6 Poland | 4.41 | 2023 | -22.86% | -2.72% | View data |
| 7 | 7 Switzerland | 3.94 | 2023 | -5.28% | -2.52% | View data |
| 8 | 8 Sweden | 2.82 | 2023 | -7.52% | -2.64% | View data |
| 9 | 9 Austria | 2.71 | 2023 | -6.52% | -2.08% | View data |
| 10 | 10 Czech Republic | 1.89 | 2023 | -2.37% | -2.11% | View data |
