In 2023, Germany led European railway passenger traffic with 2.4169 billion units, although experiencing a -3.45% year-on-year decline. The United Kingdom, the second-largest market, saw a growth of 1.95%, reaching 1.9636 billion units. France, Italy, and Spain faced declines of -2.8%, -4.27%, and -3.67% respectively. Switzerland's traffic decreased by -2.24%, while Poland saw minimal changes. Austria had a slight decline of -0.62%, and Sweden a minor increase of 0.041%. Denmark experienced a 1.66% increase, contrasting the -3.77% drop in the Czech Republic. Portugal, Finland, Slovakia, and Norway also posted negative growth rates, with Norway showing a significant -4.59% drop. Ireland faced a -5.36% decline. Other countries like Romania, though minor, reported a 0.87% increase. Notably, Bulgaria and Latvia experienced steep declines of -7.07% and -6.97%, with Macedonia facing a drastic -38.63% decrease.
Looking ahead, emerging technologies and improvements in railway infrastructure are expected to drive moderate growth in railway passenger traffic in Europe. Focus on environmental sustainability and integration of advanced ticketing and scheduling systems will be critical areas to monitor. Economic factors and travel behavior changes post-pandemic will also significantly impact future trends in the sector.
Top countries in Total Railway Passenger Traffic by Country
| # | 10 Countries | Thousand Units (Persons) | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Germany | 2,416,900 | 2023 | -3.55% | -3.45% | View data |
| 2 | 2 United Kingdom | 1,963,600 | 2023 | +1.64% | +1.95% | View data |
| 3 | 3 France | 1,081,500 | 2023 | -5.33% | -2.8% | View data |
| 4 | 4 Italy | 696,700 | 2023 | +2.22% | -4.27% | View data |
| 5 | 5 Spain | 494,570 | 2023 | -10.75% | -3.67% | View data |
| 6 | 6 Switzerland | 440,210 | 2023 | +1.61% | -2.24% | View data |
| 7 | 7 Poland | 333,180 | 2022 | +2.6% | View data | |
| 8 | 8 Austria | 264,300 | 2023 | +1.27% | -0.62% | View data |
| 9 | 9 Sweden | 247,000 | 2023 | +1.24% | +0.041% | View data |
| 10 | 10 Denmark | 222,920 | 2023 | -26.08% | +1.66% | View data |
