PASSENGER TRANSPORT
Over 342.2 m passengers used rail services in 2022. When compared to 2021, it is an increase by 97.2 m (+39.6%). The transport performance amounted to almost 23.8 bn pass-km, which is 7.9 bn (+49.6%) higher than in 2021. There was a smaller increase in the operational performance, which was over 186 m train-km, i.e. 8 m more (+4.5%) than in 2021. In 2022 the average distance travelled by a passenger was 69.4 km, 4.6 km (+7.1%) longer than in 2021.
The transport performance in 2022 reached higher parameters even when compared to 2019, so before the pandemic. The number of passengers rose by 6.3 m (+1.9%), the transport performance by 1.7 bn (+7.7%) and the operational performance by 15.1 m (+8.8%).
The record-breaking volumes of passengers in 2022 represent a return to the upward trend we had before the pandemic. In 2022 after two difficult years of fighting the coronavirus, the railway sector had to face another challenge – the consequences of the outbreak of war in Ukraine. In the first three weeks of the conflict 2 m refugees from Ukraine arrived in Poland, which proved to be a significant logistical challenge. These high transport results were not only caused by the fact that rail operators transported Ukrainian citizens. When we faced the increase in fuel prices caused by the war, rail proved to be the optimal form of commuting to work, school or University,but also for holiday trips - concludes Ignacy Góra, President of the Office of Rail Transport.
In December 2022, compared to December 2021, the number of passengers increased by 6.5 m (+28.6%), the transport performance by 0.5 bn pass-km (+37.2%) and the operational performance by 0.1 m train-km (+0.9%). The average distance travelled by a passenger was 4.2 km (+6.7%) longer than in December 2021. The number of passengers, transport performance and operational performance and average distance reached the highest values for these parameters in December since 2012.
RAIL FREIGHT
In 2022 248.6 m tonnes of goods were carried by rail, which is the highest value since 2018. Compared to 2021, the total weight carried increased by 2.1%. The transport performance amounted to 62.5 bn tonne-km, which was an increase by 11.7% year-on-year. At the same time, it was the highest result since we started colllecting data for this parameter. The operational performance at the end of the year reached 87.2 m train-km and was 6.1% higher. In the operational performance only 2018 was better, when it reached 88 m train-km. The average transport distance of one tonne of goods was 251 km and the longest reported so far, 22 km more than in 2021.
In 2022 the performance was higher not only than in 2020-2021, which were the peak pandemic years, but also than 2019, which was the last year when the market was so stable. The weight carried was 12.2 m tonnes (5.2%) higher than in 2019, the transport performance was 6.6 bn tonne-km (11.8%) higher and the operational performance was 4.9 m train-km (5.9%) higher.
The freight performance testifies to the stability of the market, which in recent years was influenced by changes in international markets. The events of the past year changed the structure of freight transport. Rail freight carriers faced changes in the structure of their existing transports. The changes in supply directions and the search for new distribution channels for freight which were caused the war in Ukraine, increases in traction energy prices were challenging for the intermodal market in particular - comments Ignacy Góra, President of the Office of Rail Transport.
In December the weight of carried goods was the lowest in 2022. The result of 18.9 m tonnes carried showed a year-on-year decrease by -1.6 m tonnes (-7.6%). The transport performance amounted to 4.9 bn tonne-km, which was an increase by 0.2 bn tonne-km (3.8%) compared to 2021. The operational performance reached 7 m train-km, which was an increase by 0.3 m train-km (4.6%). The average transport distance of one tonne of goods was 259 km, 28 km longer than in December 2021.
When compared to November, 2 m tonnes of freight (-9.5%) less was carried in December. The transport performance was 0.5 bn tonne-km lower (-10%), while the operational performance dropped by 0.6 m train-km (-8%). The average transport distance was 1.5 km shorter. For years the data in 4Q showed the best results in October and a successive decrease in November and December.
Detailed data on rail passenger and freight transport are available at dane.utk.gov.pl
Moreover, details on performance in rail passenger and freight transport for 2022, the market shares of the various carriers and a comparison of the results can be found in our new study Rail in 2022.