Over the past couple of years, the narrative around European rail freight was one of stagnation. However, data from Eurostat now shows this is no longer the case. It is a full-on decline in practically every member state and every performance indicator.
The data dives into rail freight volume trends from 2019 to 2024. After the brief post-pandemic recovery period ended, tonne-km volumes in major member states such as Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and Spain have continued to fall. This makes the EU's target of 30 per cent of freight by rail and inland waterway by 2030 increasingly unreachable.
Reasons for the decline include falling volumes in traditional freight segments such as energy and food, the exit from coal trade, rising costs for freight operators, and the competitive advantage of road transport. In addition, the shrinking of freight traffic on the eastern corridors due to the war's effects has added extra pressure to the overall total. The sector warned that without decisive policy intervention from the European Commission, the decline will enter a self-reinforcing negative cycle.
Key Takeaways:
1. Eurostat data show European rail freight is not stagnating but in a full-on decline.
2. The decline affects practically every member state and every performance indicator.
3. Tonne-km volumes continue to fall in Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and Spain.
4. The EU's 2030 target (30% of freight by rail and inland waterway) is becoming increasingly unreachable.
5. The sector warned that without decisive Commission intervention the decline will worsen.
