Recent CER data shows that for the full year 2010 compared to 2009, rail freight increased by 5.4% in Western Europe and by more than 7% in Eastern Europe. The rail passenger sector in Western Europe also grew by nearly 2% in 2010 compared to 2009, although it contracted by 4.5% in Eastern Europe.

The results of 4Q2010 show a mixed picture for the rail freight sector in Europe. Compared to the same period in the previous year, tonne-kilometres in Western Europe decreased by 5.5% in 4Q2010. Especially October 2010, and to a lesser extend December 2011, saw reduced freight performance by a large number of freight operators. These reductions are partially the result of extraordinary occurrences unrelated to normal rail freight activities, such as harsh weather conditions, social movements, etc.

Nonetheless, for the full year 2010 compared to 2009, tonne-kilometres increased by 5.4% because of the strong performance of the first three quarters in 2010.

In Central and Eastern Europe, the recovery in 2010 was more pronounced. In 4Q2010, freight operators were able to increase tonne-kilometres by 4.2% compared to the same period in the previous year. Building on the strong performance of the first half of 2010, the results for the full year 2010 in Central and Eastern Europe saw tonne-kilometres increase by 7.6% compared to 2009. This is particularly promising considering that tonne-kilometres in Eastern Europe have been declining in the 1990’s and stagnating since the year 2000.

The rail passenger sector in Western Europe continued to grow for the fourth executive quarter. Compared to the same period in the previous year, passenger-kilometres in 4Q2010 increased by 1.9%. After a slight contraction in 2009, passenger-kilometres increased by 3.1% for the full year 2010, and were able to surpass the 2008 level.

In Eastern Europe, the rail passenger sector continued to contract in 4Q2010. Compared to the same period in the previous year, passenger-kilometres decreased by 0.8% in 4Q2010. This contraction is nonetheless an improvement on the performance of the previous quarters in 2009 and 2008, where much larger reductions in passenger-kilometres were recorded. For the full year 2010, passenger-kilometres decreased by 4.5% compared to 2009.

The data presented are the results of a questionnaire on the performance of the rail passenger and freight sectors conducted by CER on a quarterly basis.

CER Executive Director Johannes Ludewig commented: “Rail transport volumes are growing again across Europe. This is a clear sign that the sector is recovering from the economic crisis. The decline of passenger traffic in Eastern Europe is, however, a reminder of the severe financial problems rail companies face in this region. In Eastern Europe only 70% of public service obligations are reimbursed by governments, and rail infrastructure continues to be chronically underfinanced. This has not only led to speed reductions and quality problems, but has also led to exceedingly high levels of track access charges, making rail transport in Eastern Europe less competitive vis-à-vis their West European counterparts and other modes.”