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Rail transport in March 2022

04.05.2022

In March 2022 both rail passenger transport and rail freight grew. More than 28.4 m people used rail services - the highest result since January 2020. 22.9 m tonnes of goods were transported by rail and it was the highest number since November 2010, i.e. in the 12 years. Compared to March 2021, the number of passengers increased by 86.7% and the weight of goods by 7.3%.

PASSENGER TRANSPORT

In March 28.42 m passengers used rail services. Compared to March 2021, it is an increase by 13.19 m passengers (+86.7%). Significant improvements were also recorded in other passenger transport parameters. The transport performance was 1,866.47 m pass-km and it was 1,008.25 m pass-km (+117.5%) higher than in 2021. The operational performance reached 16.14 m train-km – it was an increase by 1.14 m train-km (+7.6%) year-on-year. The average distance travelled by a passenger was 65.7 km, which is 9.3 km longer (+16.5%) than the year before.

Compared to February 2021, in March 7.18 m more passengers were transported by rail (+33.8%), the transport performance reached 529.97 m pass-km higher (+39.7%) and the operational performance increased by 1.80 m train-km (+12.5%). The average distance travelled by 1 passenger in March was 2.8 km longer (+4.4%) than in February this year.

Passenger transport parameters in March 2022 reached higher values compared to pre-pandemic period. When we compare March 2019 to March 2022, 0.27 m more passengers were carried by rail (+1%), the transport performance was 176.97 m higher (+10.4%) and the operational performance increased by 1.97 m train-km (+13.9%). The average distance travelled by a passenger in March was 5.6 km longer (+9.4%).

In 1Q 2022 71.07 m passengers travelled by train, the transport performance amounted to 4,514.5 m passenger-km and the operational performance amounted to 46.09 m train-km. In 1Q 2022 the average distance travelled by a passenger was 63.5 km. Compared to 1Q 2021, increases in the number of passengers by 28 m (+65%), in the transport performance by 2,004.7 m pass-km (+79.9%) and in the operational performance by 2.98 m train-km (+6.9%) were recorded. In 1Q 2022 the average distance travelled by a passenger was 5.2 km longer (+8.9%) than in the same period last year.

The first quarter of 2022 brought much better results for passenger carriers than last year. March was record-breaking. Better results than before the pandemic were certainly influenced by the lifting of the sanitary restrictions. Moreover, the free travel scheme for refugees from Ukraine introduced by rail operators also influenced the final transport results. Rising petrol prices which were result of the war in Ukraine may also have convinced people to choose rail. In the case of a long-distance carrier - PKP Intercity - the number of passengers in March increased by 160% and the transport performance by over 184% year on year - comments Ignacy Góra, President of the Office of Rail Transport.

Detailed data on rail passenger transport are available at www.dane.utk.gov.pl

RAIL FREIGHT 

In the weight of transported goods, March 2022 was the best month since November 2010. 22.9 m tonnes were transported by rail, which is an increase by 7.3% as compared to March 2021. The transport performance also reached values not seen since October 2018 and amounted to 5.5 bn tonne-km (+13.9%). The operational performance was 7.6 m train-km and a year-on-year increase was 7.2%. The average transport distance of one tonne of goods was 239 km (14 km longer).

When we compare March results to February 2022, the weight carried was 3.1 m tonnes higher (15.6%), the transport performance increased by 0.9 bn tonne-km (20.7%) and the operational performance by 1.2 m train-km (18.7%). The average transport distance of one tonne of goods grew by 10 km.

The end of the first quarter was challenging for the industry, with the war in Ukraine and its consequences, including the need to adapt to changes in the logistics and transport market. In March almost all carriers reported higher results than the month before. However, it is difficult to talk about long-term growth trends. A significant increase in transport results was influenced by higher demand for raw materials and storage of goods, all in connection with the situation on our eastern border - notes Ignacy Góra, President of the Office of Rail Transport.

A total of 62.24 m tonnes of goods were transported in 1Q 2022. The transport performance amounted to 14.6 bn tonne-km and the operational performance to 20.7 m train-km. Compared to 1Q 2021, it grew by 5.56 m tonnes (9.8%), 1.7 bn tonne-km (13.6%) and 1.5 m train-km (8%) respectively. The average transport distance of one tonne of goods in 1Q 2022 was 234 km.

Detailed data on rail freight are available at www.dane.utk.gov.pl

 

 

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