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November 2019 results: over 307 million passengers travelled by rail – rail freight numbers again on a lower level

07.01.2020

More than 307.4 m passengers have chosen the services of railways from 1 January 2019. This result is by only 3 million passengers lower than that of the entire previous year. This allows for the end-of-the-year prognosis of over 330 m passengers, that have travelled this year by rail. Rail freight services witnessed in November (as in previous months) lower figures of transport parameters. The carriers transported almost 19.9 m tonnes – 7.5% fewer than in November of 2018.

In comparison to the corresponding period of 2018 the number of passengers was higher by almost 22.6 million (7.9%). Transfer service amounted to more than 20.3 billion passenger-kilometres and was by 4.7% higher (0.9 billion passenger-kilometres). At the same time the operational service amounted to over 155 million train-kilometres and that means a rise by 3.4 million train-kilometres (2.3%).

The year 2019 confirms a stable rising trend with regard to passenger interest in railway transport. We have noticed that the activities, that public transport organisers and infrastructure managers undertake, bring notable effects – the rise in the number of passengers. Creation of integrated transport offer can be named as one of such activities – assumes Mr. Ignacy Góra, Sc. D., President of the Office of Rail Transport. – It is important not to lose these passengers, who have chosen to use railway services. Also the transport offer for the inhabitants of cities, through which the trains were travelling during diversion periods, should be kept at the same level. The need to present an offer for these passengers will be one of the most important challenges this year – adds Mr. Góra.

In November of 2019 29.4 million passengers travelled by rail. This result is better by 8% in comparison to November of 2018. More than half of these passengers (16.2 million) travelled on average no more than 40 kilometres. An average distance in that period by one passenger was on the level of 60 kilometres, by 2.5% less than in November of 2018.

Transfer service in November amounted to almost 1.8 billion passenger-kilometres, and operational service – to 13.9 million train-kilometres. These values are by 5.2% and 2% higher respectively than in November of 2018.

With regard to rail freight the transport service in November amounted to 4.6 billion tonne-kilometres and operational service – to 6.9 million train-kilometres. These values were lower by 8.5% and 9% respectively as compared to November of 2018.

The data as of today shows a steadily growing lack of interest in rail freight in 2019 in comparison to 2018. However, the rail freight numbers will anyway be better than in the period 2012-2016. Weaker yearly results should make the carriers look for new ways of attracting clients. Rail freight does not necessarily mean only bulk transport as one can observe a rising interest in intermodal transport – sums up President Góra.

During the January-November period the carriers transported almost 219 million tonnes of goods, the transport service amounted to 51.9 billion tonne-kilometres, and operational service – to 76.1 million train-kilometres. These values were lower by 5.2%, 5.8% and 6.3% respectively in comparison to the same period of 2018.

An average distance of transport of 1 tonne of goods was at the level of 233 kilometres, which means a drop by 2.4% in comparison to the corresponding period of last year.

The November 2019 results for the passenger transport can be found in this section, and the rail freight numbers for the same period are presented here.

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