For many years, intermodal rail transport was considered the most resilient and dynamic segment of European rail freight. Today, this assumption is increasingly being questioned. Rising costs, capacity constraints on key corridors and changing regulatory frameworks are putting established business models under pressure, while growth is becoming more uneven and increasingly concentrated on specific markets and customers.

At the same time, intermodal transport remains essential for stabilising rail freight volumes in Europe. However, the rules of the market are changing: growth is no longer broad-based, but selective, geographically differentiated and strongly influenced by the strategies of large shippers, logistics groups and port operators.

The study “European Intermodal Rail Freight Market 2026” provides a comprehensive and data-driven analysis of these structural changes. It examines how market conditions, cost developments, infrastructure constraints and innovation are reshaping the competitive landscape of intermodal rail freight in Europe – and where realistic growth opportunities still exist.

Specifically, the study contains:

1. Comprehensive overview of the European intermodal rail freight market, including drivers and developments
2. Analysis of market drivers in Europe, including:
3. Economic development and trade
4. Political framework
5. Competitive landscape
6. Infrastructure capacity
7. Asset availability
8. Innovation
9. Overview of the stakeholder landscape in the European intermodal market, including:
10. Intermodal value chain
11. Freight forwarders
12. Intermodal operators
13. Rail operators
14. Port and hinterland terminals
15. Asset owners
16. Analysis of the intermodal market by main corridors, including:
17. Analysis of market environment for each corridor
18. Development of intermodal transport performance along the corridor
19. Analysis of transport flows along the New Silk Road
20. Analysis of intermodal rail freight in 6 country markets (DE, PL, FR, IT, ES, UK), including:
21. Analysis of market environment for each country
22. Development of intermodal rail freight performance
23. Market drivers
24. Ports and hinterland terminals
25. Relevant developments of players on the national market