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Nov 04, 2024

Rail Passenger Transport Surges Across Europe in 2023 - Railway Supply

Railway Supply » Railway News » Significant Growth in Rail Passenger Transport Across Europe in 2023 Share 03.11.2024 Rail passenger transport grew significantly in Europe during 2023, with data

Railway Supply » Railway News » Significant Growth in Rail Passenger Transport Across Europe in 2023

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03.11.2024

Rail passenger transport grew significantly in Europe during 2023, with data showing substantial increases across the EU. Only Greece and Bulgaria reported declines in rail travel compared to 2022. This was reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The European Union saw widespread growth in rail passenger transport, according to Eurostat data from October 30, 2023. Most EU nations recorded notable increases, emphasizing a strong shift toward sustainable travel.

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Croatia led the EU with a 40.6% increase in rail travel, followed by Luxembourg at 29.9%, Ireland at 27.9%, and Spain at 26.0%. Italy also saw an impressive 18.7% rise, with Slovenia, Finland, Austria, and Latvia each experiencing growth of over 13%.

Montenegro and Serbia, EU candidate countries, also recorded significant growth, with increases of 32.2% and 23.9%, respectively. Meanwhile, Greece faced a 39.7% decline in rail travel, largely due to the September Storm Daniel, which caused severe damage to its rail infrastructure and halted northern rail services.

Germany and France remain the EU’s largest contributors in rail passenger transport, reporting 101.4 billion and 101.3 billion passenger-kilometers, respectively. Together, they accounted for 47.2% of the EU’s total rail transport activity in 2023, underscoring their crucial role in regional mobility.

In contrast, six EU nations recorded less than 1 billion passenger-kilometers in 2023. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia also showed limited rail infrastructure, with totals below 70 million passenger-kilometers.

Latvia’s rail passenger transport reached 612 million passenger-kilometers in 2023, up from 541 million in 2022, demonstrating the country’s commitment to enhancing its rail infrastructure.

National transport remains predominant across Europe, with over 90% of passenger travel in all countries except Luxembourg and Czechia. In Luxembourg, national transport made up 63.9% of total travel, while Czechia reported 82.8%.

Estonia, Greece, Latvia, and Finland only recorded national rail travel in 2023, further highlighting the EU’s reliance on internal rail services. The average EU resident made 17.8 domestic rail trips in 2023, showing an increase of 6.1 trips from 2021 and 1.7 trips from 2022.

Germany and Austria had the highest rates of rail use, with 32.1 and 32.0 trips per capita, respectively. Denmark followed closely with 31.3 trips, while Luxembourg reported 30.1 trips per capita.

With a growing emphasis on sustainable transport, the EU continues to invest in rail infrastructure to support environmental goals. The steady rise in rail passenger transport across Europe indicates a shift toward convenient, eco-friendly travel options expected to continue in the coming years.

Photo, source: lsm.lv

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