Multiple units remain the backbone of regional, suburban and commuter rail transport worldwide. The market continues to grow, but procurement is becoming more selective as public budgets come under pressure, vehicle prices rise and lifecycle costs gain importance. At the same time, maintenance, modernisation, refurbishment and digital services are becoming more strategic, as operators and public authorities seek to keep existing fleets available for longer. Europe remains the most important OEM market and the leading region for diesel replacement, with battery-electric multiple units increasingly becoming the preferred solution on partially electrified networks. Asia remains the benchmark for passenger rail performance and series production, particularly through large-scale electric trainset programmes in China and India. These are the results of the new MultiClient study “Multiple Units – Global Market Trends 2026”.

Delimitation of multiple units: Generic term for self-propelled motorised trains, normally consisting of several coupled cars or units, mainly used in regional, suburban and commuter services. Typical maximum speeds are usually in the range of 120–160 km/h, although selected intercity-oriented multiple units may exceed this range.

In specific terms, this MultiClient market study on multiple units includes:

1. A regionally differentiated analysis of the worldwide market for multiple units in regional, suburban and commuter transport, including in-depth profiles of the most important national markets.
2. Comprehensive analysis of the current installed base by operational purpose, fleet size, age structure, traction type and future replacement potential.
3. Overview of the most important drivers for new procurement, refurbishment, life extension and after-sales demand, including budget pressure, ETCS, digital systems, alternative traction and workshop capacity.
4. Analysis of manufacturer market shares by region and focus country, including deliveries of the last five years in units.
5. Forecast of new vehicle/OEM and after-sales market volumes in EUR for each region up to 2030.
6. Segment-specific forecast of future vehicle demand by region, divided into EMU SD (single-deck), EMU DD (double-deck), DMU (diesel), XMU (alternative traction, e.g. battery) and bi-mode.
7. Detailed description of important current and planned procurement projects, including large EMU programmes, BEMU projects, diesel replacement strategies and selected second-hand/refurbishment activities.

All in all, the study provides a well-founded analysis of the worldwide market for regional and commuter multiple units. It supports companies in the railway industry, suppliers, financial investors, leasing companies, operators and public authorities in assessing market potential, technology pathways, lifecycle opportunities and future procurement dynamics.

SCI Verkehr analyses markets from the bottom up: based on systematic observation of railway markets, a detailed worldwide database of installed fleets and procurement projects forms the basis for in-depth studies on the various segments of the railway industry and the most important regional focus markets. Within the scope of the MultiClient Series, SCI Verkehr continuously analyses more than 100 core countries for railway technology.