Rail travel in Europe soared to new heights in 2023, marking the highest levels of passenger transport in years. According to Eurostat, total rail passenger transport across the European Union reached an impressive 429 billion passenger-kilometres. 

‘Passenger-kilometres’ is the total distance travelled by all the passengers. For instance, one person travelling for 20 km contributes for 20 passenger-kilometres; four people, travelling for 20 km each, contribute for 80 passenger-kilometres.

This figure represents an 11.2% increase compared to 2022 and almost double the levels seen in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic brought much of the continent’s transport network to a standstill. A remarkable 8 billion passengers used national rail services in 2023, a 67.9% surge from 2020.

A strong rebound after the pandemic

Between 2015 and 2019, demand for rail transport grew steadily, culminating in a peak of 411 billion passenger-kilometres in 2019. However, this progress was abruptly reversed in 2020 due to the pandemic, with rail transport plummeting by 46.2% compared to the previous year. 

Despite a partial recovery in 2021, significant growth was observed in 2022 with a 51% increase in rail travel. By 2023, the sector had not only bounced back but surpassed pre-pandemic levels by 4.4%.

Quarterly data for 2023 further illustrates this recovery. The first quarter alone saw a remarkable 29.1% rise compared to the same period in 2022, while subsequent quarters recorded steadier growth of 9.1%, 6.6%, and 6.8% respectively.

Germany and France lead the way

Across the European Union, rail passenger transport increased in nearly all member states, with Croatia recording the most significant rise at 40.6%. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Ireland, Spain, Italy, and Slovenia also reported strong double-digit growth. 

The only exceptions were Greece and Bulgaria, where transport volumes declined. Greece experienced a sharp drop of 39.7% due to severe damage to its rail network caused by Storm Daniel in September 2023, which disrupted services in the north of the country.

Germany and France emerged as the biggest contributors to the EU’s total rail passenger transport, each recording approximately 101 billion passenger-kilometres and accounting for nearly a quarter of the overall EU rail performance. 

At the opposite end of the scale, six EU nations transported fewer than one billion passenger-kilometres in 2023. In the candidate countries of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia, figures remained below 70 million passenger-kilometres.

Domestic travel dominates

National rail travel continued to dominate passenger transport across Europe, making up more than 90% of total rail travel in most countries. 

The only exceptions were Luxembourg and Czechia, where domestic journeys accounted for a slightly lower share of 63.9% and 82.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, countries such as Estonia, Greece, Latvia, and Finland exclusively reported national rail travel in 2023.

Passenger numbers and per capita trends

Looking at overall passenger numbers rather than distance travelled, the trend mirrored that of passenger-kilometres. 

Between 2015 and 2019, the total number of rail passengers grew by 9.9%, reaching a peak of 8.2 billion in 2019. The pandemic caused a drastic 42.2% drop in 2020, but by 2023, passenger numbers had nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels, reaching 8 billion—just 3% below 2019’s figure.

Growth in 2023 was widespread, with Croatia again leading the charge, recording a 29% increase in passenger numbers. Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain, and Italy also reported notable increases, while Greece, Bulgaria, and Sweden were the only EU nations to see declines. 

Despite a drop in passenger numbers, Sweden and North Macedonia still recorded increases in passenger-kilometres, suggesting longer journeys per trip.

Germany was by far the largest contributor in terms of passenger numbers, carrying 2.7 billion passengers—33.9% of the EU total. France, Italy, and Spain followed, while at the lower end, Lithuania and Estonia recorded fewer than 8 million passengers.

When measured per capita, Switzerland took the lead with an astonishing 54.8 rail passengers per person in 2023, followed by Germany and Austria, each exceeding 32 passengers per capita. 

Denmark, Luxembourg, and Sweden also had strong per capita figures, highlighting their well-integrated and widely used rail networks. In contrast, Greece recorded the lowest figure among EU countries, with just 1.2 rail passengers per capita, while candidate countries Turkey (Türkiye), North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina registered even lower figures.

A promising future for rail travel in Europe

The resurgence of rail travel in Europe reflects a shift towards more sustainable transport choices and growing confidence in the efficiency of the continent’s railway networks. 

With continued investment in infrastructure, high-speed networks, and cross-border services, the trend is set to continue, reinforcing rail’s role as a key player in Europe’s transport landscape.

Some tourism statistics

• 5 million passengers flew from and to Brussels Airport in summer 2025.
• BELGIUM | Flemish museums attracted more than 4.8 million visitors in 2023.
• Belgium sees modest tourism growth in 2024, led by Flanders and Brussels.
• Travel in 2024: Spain, France, USA, China, Mexico lose ground and Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, UAE to grow market share.
• France, Spain, USA, China and Italy most visited countries in the world, Belgium 41st.
• France welcomed 100 million international visitors in 2024.
• Turkey welcomed 62 million international tourists who together spent $61 billion in 2024.
• SPAIN | 94 million international visitors and €108.7 billion tourism income in 2024.
• UN WORLD TOURISM BAROMETER | International tourism recovers pre-pandemic levels in 2024.
• Outside the EU, Europeans mostly travel to Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
• Intra-European travel mostly for fun and / or family.
• Europeans visit other European countries over 7 nights on average.

More on night trains and transcontinental train travel

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• ÖBB prioritises Railjet over Nightjet: Is the night train revival a False Dawn?.
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• Deutsche Bahn’s Antwerp – Brussels Airport – Leuven – Cologne ICE aims to attract tourists and Port of Antwerp-related business.
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• Dutch budget train GoVolta postponed after not getting funds.
• Eurostar scraps direct Amsterdam – Brussels – Marseille summer train service.
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• SNCF Réseau confirms feasibility European Sleeper night train linking the Netherlands, Belgium, France to Barcelona in Spain.
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• Nightjet Vienna/Innsbruck to Brussels, or how we got thrown off the train in Aachen.
• Why the expensive ÖBB Nightjet is really not that expensive.
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• How we plan a big rail trip.
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• To use night trains in Portugal and Spain or not?.
• Night trains in Europe.
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• Fly now before it’s taxed and consider using the train instead.

Channel Tunnel updates

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• CHANNEL TUNNEL | UK and Germany renew London-Berlin vows, Virgin Trains promise Alstom Avelia Stream train sets.
• 2025 | The Channel Tunnel prepares for more trains, more competition and new destinations.
• United Kingdom and Germany are aiming for a direct London – Berlin train link.
• Eurostar and St. Pancras Highspeed back major station expansion to double capacity amid growing international demand.
• EUROSTAR | London – Frankfurt, London – Geneva and Amsterdam – Antwerp – Brussels – Geneva from 2030?.
• Alstom wants its double-decker trains to ride through Channel Tunnel.
• CHANNEL TUNNEL | Uber Trains-branded Gemini Trains plan London-Brussels and London-Paris route via Stratford.
• London to Switzerland direct train moves a little closer with new bilateral agreement.
• Eurostar calls for UK national strategy and investment to shape future of Channel Tunnel Rail and promises 50 new trains.
• Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) plan to launch a new high-speed link between London and Paris.
• London St. Pancras Highspeed pledges financial support for cross-Channel rail services.
• Competition for Eurostar? Temple Mills International Depot has space for competitor’s trains.
• London St Pancras Highspeed and Getlink aspire to to triple train services to France, Belgium and the Netherlands and add services to Germany and Switzerland.
• Heuro wants to operate high speeds trains between Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Paris and London from 2028.