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:

• Comprehensive overview of the European intermodal rail freight market, including drivers and developments
• Analysis of market drivers in Europe, including:
  • Economic development and trade
  • Political framework
  • Competitive landscape
  • Infrastructure capacity
  • Asset availability
  • Innovation
• Overview of the stakeholder landscape in the European intermodal market, including:
  • Intermodal value chain
  • Freight forwarders
  • Intermodal operators
  • Rail operators
  • Port and hinterland terminals
  • Asset owners
• Analysis of the intermodal market by main corridors, including:
  • Analysis of market environment for each corridor
  • Development of intermodal transport performance along the corridor
  • Analysis of transport flows along the New Silk Road
• Analysis of intermodal rail freight in 6 country markets (DE, PL, FR, IT, ES, UK), including:
  • Analysis of market environment for each country
  • Development of intermodal rail freight performance
  • Market drivers
  • Ports and hinterland terminals
  • Relevant developments of players on the national market