European rail freight transport is currently in a difficult situation, despite promising long-term prospects. European rail freight operators are urgently looking for solutions to find their way between the expected long-term positive development of the overall market and massive short-term fluctuations in transport demand and major economic challenges. After a brief recovery - with an all-time high for Europe as a whole in 2022 - the coronavirus crisis turned into a cyclical and structural crisis that characterised the market in 2023 and 2024. In addition, there is a high level of uncertainty with regard to the effects of US tariff policy and the expected shifts in global trade in goods, e.g. in the automotive industry and intermodal transport. The latter remains the growth segment in rail freight transport in the long term, although it is also dependent on the future development of global trade. A rapid recovery in transport performance is difficult to achieve and further shifts from road to rail are necessary. National investment programmes (e.g. in Germany with high infrastructure investments), the political will for a modal shift and innovations in rail freight transport will have a positive impact on rail freight transport in the coming years. The rail freight companies themselves are facing profound structural challenges. The reorganisation of the former state railways such as SNCF Fret or DB Cargo is fundamentally changing the range of services and thus the dynamics in the market. The successful outcome of these transformation processes is currently still open, but is necessary to increase rail market share. The current study “The European Rail Freight Transport Market 2025” by SCI Verkehr provides readers with insights into the dynamics of this highly complex market, helps them to identify challenges for their own business and derive resilience strategies. A market with less than 1.5% annual growth until the end of the decade with strong short-term fluctuations is a challenge for all companies - but also offers opportunities for innovative solutions. To make the dynamics of the markets accessible, SCI Verkehr analyses the current and future situation of rail freight transport in Europe in 23 country chapters and offers a detailed insight into the most important freight groups and operators.

Specifically, the study contains:

1. Comprehensive overview of the European rail freight market, including key trends and developments
2. Analysis and benchmark of the main rail freight operators in Europe
3. Detailed analysis of rail freight in 23 country markets, including:
4. Recent development of rail freight performance, GDP, modal share
5. Outlook until 2030, assessment of market drivers
6. Recent development of transport performance by destination (national, export and import, transit)
7. Overview of the rail freight infrastructure and the most important transport corridors
8. Recent development of commodities transported by rail and outlook until 2030 for the most important commodities on a country level
9. Recent development of market shares of former state railways as well as competitors
10. Rail freight turnover of the main players per country market measured in EUR
11. Analysis of the most important changes in the operator landscape
12. Overview on the European locomotive and freight wagon fleet, including innovations in the segments rolling stock, transshipment technologies, and digitisation
13. Factsheets on the 12 biggest operators