2023, a Year of All Records for Trains in Europe

In 2023, train travel experienced unprecedented popularity in Europe, with France and Germany leading among the European Union countries

Train travel is increasingly favored by Europeans. According to a Eurostat report, it is even the year where Europeans have traveled the most by train since this data was first recorded in 2004. Europeans traveled 429 billion kilometers by train in 2023, a record that represents an increase of over 11% compared to the previous year.

This figure exceeds the level of 2019, the year when the EU reached 411 billion passenger-kilometers, just before the decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. After a sharp decline in 2020, railways are once again playing a prominent role in transportation within the Union.

Among the Member States, Germany and France stand out significantly. Together, they account for half of the passenger-distance traveled by rail in the EU in 2023, with 101.4 and 101.3 billion kilometers respectively. These two countries have highly developed railway networks. They seem to benefit from a strong enthusiasm for this mode of transport, often perceived as more eco-friendly and aligned with sustainability expectations.

Passenger numbers on the rise

The European Union counted nearly 8 billion railway passengers in 2023, a number confirming the renewed interest in trains across Europe. Among them, nearly half traveled in France and Germany. These two countries respectively accounted for 34% and 15% of EU passengers, totaling 2.7 billion for Germany and 1.2 billion for France. Following are Italy (814 million), Spain (666 million), and Austria (325 million), also among the countries with the highest railway traffic.

However, some other Member States show much more modest figures, notably Lithuania (4.7 million passengers), Estonia (7.8 million), and Greece (12.8 million). Additionally, Malta and Cyprus, which do not have a railway network, are not included in the data.

Trains are significantly more popular than airplanes

The 2023 figures show a growing success for trains as the preferred mode of transport, surpassing air travel in terms of passenger numbers. While air transport attracted 972 million passengers in 2023 within the EU, trains carried a total of 8 billion journeys, clearly indicating a preference for rail. In a context of increased environmental awareness, this historic record demonstrates the appeal of a more sustainable, practical mode of travel well-suited for intra-European journeys.

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