Rail Freight Transport is a critical component of the European Union’s (EU) logistics and supply chain network, offering a sustainable and efficient mode for moving goods across the continent. This article delves into the latest trends in EU rail freight transport, analyzing performance, key countries, and transported goods based on data extracted in September 2023, with a planned update for October 2025.
In 2023, the EU rail freight sector experienced a downturn, with performance decreasing by 4.9% compared to the previous year. This decline follows a period of fluctuation, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recovery efforts. Despite the overall decrease, Germany maintained its position as the leading contributor to EU rail freight transport performance, even recording a slight increase.
Performance Overview: EU Rail Freight Transport in 2023
According to recent data, EU rail freight transport performance experienced a notable decrease in 2023. Measured in tonne-kilometres, a key industry metric reflecting both weight and distance of goods transported, the sector saw a 4.9% contraction compared to 2022. This translates to a total performance of 378 billion tonne-kilometres across the EU.
Analyzing the quarterly data reveals a consistent downward trend throughout 2023. Each quarter registered a decrease compared to the same period in 2022:
- Q1 2023: -5.4%
- Q2 2023: -9.2%
- Q3 2023: -7.5%
- Q4 2023: -5.7%
This continuous decline indicates broader economic factors influencing freight transport demand and potentially modal shifts within the logistics sector.
Germany Leads, While Most EU Nations See Rail Freight Decline
Germany remains the powerhouse of EU rail freight, contributing the largest share of transport performance. In 2023, Germany recorded 125 billion tonne-kilometres, representing approximately one-third of the entire EU’s rail freight activity. Interestingly, Germany was one of the few countries to experience a slight increase in rail freight performance (+0.7%) between 2022 and 2023.
Poland and France followed Germany, with 60 and 29 billion tonne-kilometres respectively, highlighting their significant roles in the EU rail freight landscape. In contrast, smaller economies like Estonia, Greece, Luxembourg, and Ireland recorded significantly lower volumes, under 1 billion tonne-kilometres each.
However, the widespread trend across the EU was a decrease in rail freight transport. All EU countries, with the exception of Luxembourg and Portugal, saw a reduction in the tonnage of goods transported by rail in 2023 compared to 2022. The most significant declines were observed in:
- Greece (-54.0%)
- Estonia (-40.1%)
- Latvia (-30.0%)
- France (-16.7%)
- Lithuania (-14.5%)
The Baltic countries’ substantial drop is largely attributed to the cessation of freight transport with Russia following the war in Ukraine, illustrating the geopolitical factors impacting rail freight.
International vs. National Rail Freight: Geographical Factors
The proportion of international versus national rail freight transport varies significantly across EU member states, heavily influenced by geographical location and trade routes. For the EU overall, national transport accounted for the largest share (51.5%) of total tonne-kilometres in 2023, followed by international unloadings (18.3%), international loadings (18.1%), and transit freight (12.1%).
Countries strategically positioned along major European transport corridors tend to have higher shares of international rail freight. Greece, for instance, recorded the highest share of international transport at 95.0% of its total rail freight performance in 2023. Latvia, bordering Russia, saw 88.9% international transport, primarily unloadings. The Netherlands, a key European logistics hub with the port of Rotterdam, reported 85.9% international transport, mainly loadings.
Conversely, peripheral or island nations like Ireland, Finland, Denmark, and Spain exhibit lower international rail freight shares. These countries often rely more on maritime transport for international freight, with rail primarily serving national transport needs after goods arrive at ports.
Transit transport, where goods pass through a country without being loaded or unloaded, is particularly significant in countries located on key transit routes. Denmark had the highest transit share (81.4%) in 2023, followed by Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria.
Tonnage Trends: Broad Decline Across the EU
Examining rail freight in terms of tonnage (weight of goods transported) reinforces the trend of decline. Out of the 24 EU countries with available data, 22 experienced a decrease in rail freight tonnage between 2022 and 2023. Germany, despite a slight increase in tonne-kilometres, saw the largest absolute decrease in tonnage, with a reduction of 22 million tonnes. France and Austria also recorded substantial tonnage declines.
Only Luxembourg and Portugal bucked the trend, registering minor increases in tonnage. The divergence between Germany’s tonne-kilometres increase and tonnage decrease suggests that while the total weight transported by rail decreased, the average distance goods were transported within Germany may have increased.
Austria led in rail freight tonnage per capita in 2023, followed by Lithuania and Latvia, indicating the relative importance of rail freight in these economies.
Goods Categories: Mining Products Dominate Rail Freight
In 2023, the leading category of goods transported by rail in the EU, measured in both tonne-kilometres and tonnes, was “metal ores and other mining and quarrying products; peat; uranium and thorium.” This category reflects the movement of raw materials essential for various industries. Other significant goods categories included:
- Coke and refined petroleum products
- Basic metals and fabricated metal products
- Agricultural, hunting, and forestry products
- Coal and lignite, crude petroleum and natural gas
- Chemicals, chemical products, and man-made fibers
Notably, “metal ores and other mining and quarrying products” had a higher share in terms of weight (tonnes) compared to tonne-kilometres, suggesting these goods are often transported over shorter distances compared to other categories.
Dangerous Goods and Consignment Types
“Flammable liquids” were the most frequently transported type of dangerous goods by rail across the majority of EU countries in 2023. However, variations exist, with “gases” being prominent in Denmark and Sweden, and “corrosives” in Greece and Finland, reflecting country-specific industrial profiles and trade patterns.
Regarding consignment types, “full train loads” were the predominant form of rail freight transport in countries providing data, indicating the efficiency of rail for large-volume shipments.
Conclusion: Challenges and Future Outlook for EU Rail Freight
The 2023 data reveals a challenging year for EU rail freight transport, marked by a widespread decline in performance and tonnage. Geopolitical events, economic headwinds, and potentially modal shifts within the freight sector have contributed to this downturn.
However, rail freight remains a vital part of the EU transport system, particularly for sustainable and long-distance freight movement. Germany’s continued leadership and the diverse range of goods transported by rail underscore its importance. Future developments in the sector will likely be shaped by factors such as:
- Economic recovery and industrial production levels
- Geopolitical stability and trade relations
- EU policies promoting sustainable transport and modal shift to rail
- Investments in rail infrastructure and interoperability
Understanding these trends is crucial for stakeholders in the logistics industry, policymakers, and businesses relying on efficient and sustainable freight transport solutions within the European Union.
Data Sources
Data presented in this article is sourced from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, and includes data collected under Regulation (EU) No 2018/643. For detailed data and further analysis, please refer to the Eurostat database.
