Rail traffic worldwide boosted by demographical development and globalisation of trade in 2007

Paris, France – The International Union of Railways (UIC) has recently completed collection of its members’ rail traffic statistics for 2007. The statistics show continued traffic growth in both the passenger and freight sectors, and highlight the link between such trends and economic and demographic developments in certain parts of the world, and with the globalisation of trade links.

Detailed analysis of traffic by region paints a more nuanced picture influenced by the relative economic dynamism of the various regions.

Passenger Traffic

With passenger traffic growth rates of 12.9% and 8.5% respectively, Indian Railways (IR) and Chinese Railways (CR) came close to the threshold of 700 billion passenger-kilometres. Traffic levels on both these companies have doubled in less than twelve years.

Europe and Japan recorded moderate growth in passenger traffic, between 1.5% and 2%, in line with economic growth in these parts of the world. 2007 was a particularly good year for the United Kingdom, where passenger traffic grew by more than 10%, in terms of both passengers and passenger-kilometres.

Russian Railways (RZD) recorded a 2.4% fall in passenger traffic levels, though this follows on from an exceptional year in 2006, which saw traffic grow by 4%.

Freight Traffic

After growth of 3% in 2006, freight traffic in the US (Class 1 AAR railroads) was stagnant, down 1% on the previous year’s levels.

Elsewhere, CR (China), RZD (Russia) and IR (India) continued to see strong growth, with levels exceeding 7%.

European rail freight recorded a solid 1% growth in 2007, after a 4% increase in 2006: international freight traffic was particularly strong, growing by 3.5%.