Data extracted in September 2023.
Planned article update: 31 October 2025.
Highlights
Rail freight transport for main undertakings, EU, 2013-2023
This article presents the main trends in rail freight transport statistics in the European Union (EU), and the EFTA countries Norway and Switzerland, as well as the candidate countries Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye. It covers quarterly and annual data for total transport, and annual data for national, international and transit transport. Railway transport by type of goods and type of consignment is also presented.
This article, together with the article Railway passenger transport statistics - quarterly and annual data, presents a complete overview of railway transport in Europe.
EU rail freight transport performance decreased in 2023 compared with the previous year
Figure 1 presents the evolution of EU rail freight transport performance between 2013 and 2023. It should be noted that Belgium’s data are not included for confidentiality reasons. From 2013 to 2018, the level of rail freight transport performance constantly increased, peaking at 410 billion tonne-kilometres (tkm) in 2018. Rail freight transport performance fell by 2.2% in 2019 and significantly dropped further in 2020 by 8.4% compared with the previous year. To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries took restrictive measures starting in March 2020. These restrictions had a significant impact on rail freight transport, albeit at a lower level than for rail passenger transport. In 2021, a recovery can be observed with an 8.9% increase compared with 2020, reaching almost the level of 2019, at 400 billion tkm. This upward move, however, did not continue in 2022, as rail freight transport performance slightly decreased by 0.5%, compared with 2021. In 2023, the decline continued (-4.9 %), reaching 378 billion tkm.
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(billion tonne-kilometres)
Source: Eurostat (rail_go_typepas) and (rail_go_quartal)
When looking at the quarterly rail performance at EU level, increases were recorded in the first 2 quarters of 2022 (+3.3% and +1.0%, respectively), compared with the same quarters of 2021. While the third quarter of 2022 remained rather consistent compared with 2021 (-0.2 %), a decline of 5.8% was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2022. In 2023, rail transport performance decreased in all quarters (-5.4 %, -9.2 %, -7.5 % and -5.7 %, respectively), compared with the same quarter of 2022.
Germany recorded the highest rail freight transport performance in the EU
Germany was by far the largest contributor to rail freight transport performance in the EU, with 125 billion tkm in 2023, representing around one third of the EU total (see Figure 2). Poland and France followed with 60 and 29 billion tkm, respectively. At the other end of the scale, Estonia, Greece, Luxembourg and Ireland registered less than 1 billion tkm in 2023.The two candidate countries, Montenegro and North Macedonia, reported less than 200 million tonne-kilometres in 2023.
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(billion tonne-kilometres)
Source: Eurostat (rail_go_typepas) and (rail_go_quartal)
All EU countries, except Germany, Luxembourg, Poland and Portugal, recorded a decrease in rail freight transport between 2022 and 2023. The largest drops were observed in Greece (-54.0%), Estonia (-40.1%), Latvia (-30.0%), France (-16.7%) and Lithuania (-14.5%). In the case of the 3 Baltic countries, the decline was mainly attributed to the cease in freight transport with Russia, due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. A substantial fall over the same period can also be observed in in the candidate countries: North Macedonia (-48.9%), Serbia (-23.9 %), Türkiye (-19.2 %) and Montenegro (-13.6 %). By contrast, increases between 2022 and 2023 were observed in Luxembourg (+3.9%), Portugal (+13.3%), Poland (+1.9%) and Germany (+0.7%). In absolute terms, Poland was by far the country with the highest increase, with a 1.1 billion tkm increase between 2022 and 2023. Germany followed with a growth of 0.8 billion tkm over the same period. By contrast, France was by far the country with the highest fall (-5.9 billion tkm) between 2022 and 2023, followed by Latvia (-2.2 billion tkm) over the same period.
Rail freight transport performance by type of transport (national, international loadings, international unloadings and transit) in total tkm performed is shown in Figure 3. For the EU as a whole, the share of national transport in 2023 can be estimated at 51.5%, international unloadings at 18.3%, international loadings at 18.1% and transit freight transport at 12.1%. In this context, transit transport performance for the EU is calculated as the sum of the transit transport performance reported by each EU country.
The share of international transport in total rail freight transport in the various countries is strongly linked to their geographical position within Europe. The countries which registered the highest shares of international transport are located in the key corridors within the European market. Greece registered the highest share of international transport on total transport performance in 2023, with 95.0%. In Latvia, which is located at the border between the EU and Russia, international transport accounted for 88.9% in total tkm performed in 2023, mainly consisting of unloadings (68.0%). The Netherlands, strategically located in the heart of the European market, registered a share of international transport of 85.9% in total tkm performed, mainly loadings for rail carriage (62.3%). The key import port of Rotterdam, with large sea/rail transfers of goods dispatched within the EU, strongly influences these figures. Luxembourg also registered a high share of international transport with 80.6%.
By contrast, countries with specific geographical characteristics (at the periphery of the European Union or islands) recorded a lower share of international freight transport by rail. No international transport has been reported by Ireland for 2023 and relatively small shares were observed for Finland (6.1%), Denmark (13.5%), Spain (14.2%) and Lithuania (15.0%). For these countries, the preferred mode for international freight transport remains maritime transport, where goods are delivered at the nearest port and then further transported to the final destination mainly by road and at a smaller rate also by rail (accounted as national transport). Türkiye also recorded a low percentage (7.1%) of international freight transport, which may also be linked to its peripheral position.
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(%, based on tonne-kilometres)
Source: Eurostat (rail_go_typepas)
Regarding transit transport in the EU, Denmark registered the highest share in 2023, with 81.4%, followed by Slovakia (41.1%), Hungary (38.8%), Austria (38.7%) and Croatia (32.0%). Similar high shares were also recorded in 2023 in Switzerland (66.7%) and North Macedonia (67.6%). By contrast, 7 EU countries (Greece, Estonia, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Finland) and the EFTA country Norway did not report any transit rail freight transport in 2023.
When looking at national rail transport, the highest shares in 2023 were observed in Ireland (100%), Finland (93.9%), Spain (85.8%), Romania (74.2%), Poland (70.4%), Portugal (69.1%), Sweden (62.5%), Lithuania and Bulgaria (both 60.7%) and France (60.0%). National transport was also dominant in Türkiye (92.5%) and Norway (67.7%). On the other side of the scale, national transport represented only 5.0% in Greece, 5.1% in Denmark, 6.1% in the Netherlands and 6.7% in Latvia.
All EU countries, except Luxembourg and Portugal, recorded a decrease in rail freight transport tonnage between 2022 and 2023
Rail freight transport expressed in tonnes is presented in Figure 4. Out of the 24 EU countries for which rail transport data are available, 22 recorded a decrease in 2023 compared with 2022. Greece registered the highest fall (-53.8%), followed by Estonia (-42.9%), Latvia (-27.5%), France (-14.4%) and Bulgaria (-14.0%). The candidate countries, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye also recorded a substantial decrease over the same period. In absolute terms, Germany was the country with the highest decrease, with a fall of 22 million tonnes between 2022 and 2023. France and Austria followed with a decrease of 13 and 11 million tonnes, respectively, over the same period.
Increase in tonnage compared with 2022 was observed only in Portugal (+2.2% or +188 000 tonnes) and Luxembourg (+1.4% or +48 000 tonnes). Notably, Germany and Poland registered a decrease between 2022 and 2023 in terms of tonnes transported whilst they recorded a growth in terms of tonne-kilometres, which is reflecting an increase in the distances covered in these countries.
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(million tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (rail_go_typepas) and (rail_go_quartal)
Figure 5 presents the tonnage of rail freight transported in relation to the population of the reporting country. Austria had the highest rate in 2023, with 10.2 tonnes per capita, followed by Lithuania (9.5), Latvia and Slovakia (both 8.2). Nine EU countries transported between 4 and 8 tonnes per capita, 7 others between 1 and 4 tonnes per capita, and 4 less than 1 tonne per capita. Greece and Ireland registered the lowest rate with 0.1 tonnes per capita in 2023. Also, North Macedonia and Türkiye recorded less than 0.5 tonnes per capita in 2023.
When comparing with 2022, Estonia and Latvia registered the largest decline in tonnage per capita in 2023, with -5.9 and -3.2 tonnes per capita, respectively. When looking at the evolution over a 10-year period, a gradual decrease can be observed for Estonia (-25.7 tonnes per capita), for Latvia (-19.4 tonnes per capita), Lithuania (-6.6 tonnes per capita) and for Luxembourg (-4.2 tonnes per capita) in 2023 compared with 2013.
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(tonnes per capita)
Source: Eurostat (rail_go_typepas) and (rail_go_quartal)
‘Metal ores and other mining and quarrying products; peat; uranium and thorium’ was the goods category the most transported by rail in 2023
Figure 6 presents the share of the different types of goods (according to the NST 2007 classification) transported by rail, expressed in tonne-kilometres and tonnes. It should be noted, however, that the high share of unidentifiable goods reported impacts the overall results presented.
At EU level, the main types of goods transported in 2023, based on tkm, were ‘metal ores and other mining and quarrying products; peat; uranium and thorium’ (NST 2007 division ‘03’) (12.3%), 'coke and refined petroleum products' (NST 2007 division '07') (10.1%), 'basic metals; fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment' (NST 2007 division '10') (8.8%), 'products of agriculture, hunting, and forestry; fish and other fishing products' (NST 2007 division '01') (8.1%), 'coal and lignite; crude petroleum and natural gas' (NST 2007 division '02') (7.8%) and 'chemicals, chemical products, and man-made fibers; rubber and plastic products; nuclear fuel' (NST 2007 division '08') (5.7%).
In terms of weight (in tonnes), the main type of goods transported was also 'metal ores and other mining and quarrying products; peat; uranium and thorium', but with a higher share (15.5%) than in terms of tkm. The second main share in total weight of products carried was of the category 'coal and lignite; crude petroleum and natural gas' (11.8%), which was in fifth position in terms of tkm. 'Coke and refined petroleum products' came third, with a share of 10.1%, which was in second position in terms of tkm. The fourth type of goods carried was 'basic metals; fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment' (9.1%), which was third in terms of tkm. 'Products of agriculture, hunting, and forestry; fish and other fishing products' and 'chemicals, chemical products, and man-made fibers; rubber and plastic products; nuclear fuel' were in the fifth and sixth positions with 7.9% and 5.2%, respectively.
Source: Eurostat (rail_go_grpgood)
Table 1 presents rail freight transport by type of dangerous goods in 2023, expressed in thousand tonnes. Out of 23 EU countries for which data are available, 'flammable liquids' was the most transported type of dangerous goods in 19 EU countries in 2023, with shares on the total transport of dangerous goods in the country varying between 37% in Italy and 100% in Luxembourg. This type of dangerous goods was also the most transported by rail in Türkiye, at 82.9% in 2023. 'Gases, compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure' was the most transported type of dangerous goods in Denmark and Sweden, with shares of 39.8% and 33.5% in 2023, respectively. Ireland reported only 'miscellaneous dangerous substances' in 2023. 'Corrosives' was the main type of dangerous goods for Greece (71.3%) and Finland (59.7%) in 2023. To add to the picture, 'flammable solids' was the most transported type of dangerous goods for Portugal in 2023, with a share of 35.3%.
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(thousand tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (rail_go_dnggood)
Figure 7 presents the share of the different types of consignment used in rail freight transport, based on tonnes. It should be noted that the data transmission for rail freight transport by type of consignment is voluntary. Hence, data are only available for 9 EU countries and the EFTA country Switzerland. Among these countries, 7 had a majority of 'full train loads'. Ireland even reported only 'full train loads'. This share was 91.6% in Italy, 85.3% in Poland and 78.5% in Slovenia. The share of 'full train loads' was 65.1% in Slovakia; however, it is influenced by the high share of 'unknown' reported (24.1%). The lowest share was recorded in Sweden, at 53.7%. The 3 remaining reporting countries, Lithuania, Romania and Finland, reported only 'full wagon loads'. Only Poland reported the type of consignment ‘other’ (0.5%). In the EFTA country Switzerland, the share of 'full train loads' was 69.7%.
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(thousand tonnes)
Source: Eurostat (rail_go_consgmt)
Source data for tables and graphs
Data sources
The figures presented in this article have been extracted from the Eurostat rail transport database. They include data on national, international and transit transport of the Member States, EFTA and Candidate countries, collected according to the Regulation (EU) No 2018/643 recast of Regulation (EU) No 2016/2032. There are no railways in Cyprus, Malta and Iceland. The various elements present data collected under the detailed reporting system, meaning that data include only main undertakings which are defined as follows:
- Until 2015: undertakings with a total transport performance greater than 500 million tonne-km or 200 million passenger-km.
- From 2016: undertakings with a total volume of goods transport of at least 200 million tonne-km or at least 500 000 tonnes or a total volume of passenger transport of at least 100 million passenger-km.
Railway undertakings which are below these thresholds may however be included for some countries. Basic results and derived indicators (such as growth rates and shares in percentage of total) in the tables are rounded. However, the figures are based on the non-rounded original data. As a result, the sum of shares in percentage of total, as shown in the tables, is not necessarily equal to 100%. Explanatory notes for countries are available in the metadata on the Eurostat website.
Data by type of consignment are provided on a voluntary basis.
Full train load: any consignment comprising one or more wagonloads transported at the same time by the same sender at the same station and forwarded with no change in train composition to the address of the same consignee at the same destination station.
Full wagon load: any consignment of goods for which the exclusive use of a wagon is required, whether the total loading capacity is utilised or not.
Symbols
| : | not available |
| - | not applicable |
| 0 | actual zero or very negligible transport |
| c | confidential data |
Context
The content of this statistical article is based on data collected within the framework of Regulation (EU) No 2018/643 recast of Regulation (EU) No 2016/2032.
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Database
- Transport, see detailed datasets:
- Railway transport (rail)
- Railway transport measurement - Goods (rail_go)
- Historical data (1982-2002) (rail_go_h)