PASSENGER TRANSPORT
In August 2021 over 24.9 m people travelled by rail, which is an increase by 23.7% when compared to August 2020. Other operational parameters in rail passenger transport also improved. The transport performance was over 2 bn pass-km, which is an increase by 33% when compared to August 2020. The operational performance amounted to 15.9 m train-km (an increase by 9.6%). The average distance travelled by one passenger was 83 km (6 km more than in August 2020).
When compared to 2019, in August 2021 rail services were chosen by 3.4 m less passengers, which accounted for 88% of travellers in 2019 . The differences in the number of passengers in the pre-pandemic period and current numbers are decreasing each month. Again when we compare August 2021 results to August 2019, the transport performance was lower by 217.3 m pass-km (-9.5%), but the operational performance was higher by 0.8 m train-km (an increase by 5.5%). The average distance travelled by one passenger was 3 km longer.
So far August has turned out to be the best month for passenger rail transport since the outbreak of the pandemic in March last year. The number of travellers is gradually increasing and is approaching the level from before 2020. The results in the summer months indicate that even in this unusual pandemic situation, rail is perceived as a safe mode of transport - emphasizes Ignacy Góra, President of the Office of Rail Transport.
The results in August 2021 were also better than in July 2021. The number of rail passengers increased by 1.4 m people (5.9%), the transport performance by 156 m pass-km (8.2%) and the operational performance by 0.1 m train-km (0.8 %).
Detailed data on rail passenger transport are available at www.dane.utk.gov.pl
RAIL FREIGHT
August 2021 was the second month in a row when the total weight of transported goods exceeded 20 m tonnes. 21.2 m tonnes of goods transported by rail is definitely a result similar to those during the best months before the pandemic and is 12.3% higher than in 2020. The transport performance reached this year’s record of 4.9 bn tonne-km and rose by 8.9% as compared to August 2020. The operational performance was 7.2 m train-km (an increase by 8.9% as compared to August 2020). The average transport distance was 231 km, which is a decrease by 7 km.
In 2019 better results were recorded only in March (21.7 m tonnes) and October (21.4 m tonnes), while the last month was better than August 2019 by 1.8 m tonnes (an increase by 9%). The transport performance also rose by 297.6 m tonne-km (6.5%) and the operational performance by 0.5 m train-km (7.1%).
Rail freight has not only recovered from the pandemic, but is also growing all the time. In August we had very good results in the mass of transported goods and the transport performance. It is worth noting that both small and large companies recorded increases - these results confirm a good condition of the entire rail freight sector, but also a dynamic development of intermodal transport - comments Ignacy Góra, President of the Office of Rail Transport.
The rail freight parameters in August were also better than in July. The total weight of goods was higher by 0.5 m tonnes (an increase by 2.2%), the transport performance rose by 179 m train-km (3.8%) and the operational performance by 0.1 m train-km (1.5%). The average transport distance was also 4 km longer.
Detailed data on rail freight are available at www.dane.utk.gov.pl