Rail Traffic in Europe to Grow

railLong-distance passenger rail traffic will increase by an estimated 21 percent (2.2 percent annually) to reach over 1.36 billion passengers by 2020, 238 million up compared to 2011 figures, according to a new study from Amadeus, entitled The Rail Journey to 2020.

The Amadeus report focuses on the period 2011-2020, which will see the passenger rail industry in Europe impacted by an unprecedented combination of factors: some relating to structural change, others arising from opportunities created by infrastructural investments and technology.

Amadeus reports the anticipated growth in passenger volume over the period 2011-2020 is driven by four key markets in particular: the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and Germany.

The Rail Journey to 2020 provides an overview of the European rail market today, and outlines six key trends that will shape the evolution of the passenger rail industry, and its relationships with other modal providers in the period to 2020. 

The key trends include: liberalization, new market entrants, completion of new high-speed lines, new hubs, air-rail and rail-rail cooperation and railways’ costs. 

 “The Rail Journey to 2020 aims to inform the debate on how seamless cross-border rail services across Europe can become a reality,” said Thomas Drexler, Director of Amadeus Rail.

“Building standards for data exchange, booking and ticketing services will fundamentally change the way the traveller will view rail travel, and move even closer towards the EC’s proposals for rail in its Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area. It will make rail travel more accessible, and improve the perception that rail is the way to travel across Europe. This will in turn encourage the idea that through-ticketing is a must for this to be successful," Drexler said.

Visit www.amadeusrail.net/research.html