Combined transport in Europe recorded growth in Q4 2024 05/03/25
< Back to list
(original article in Polish) - Łukasz Kuś
Combined transport in Europe recorded growth in Q4 2024
Combined transport in Europe in the fourth quarter of 2024 increased by 2.85% compared to the last quarter of 2023, the International Union of Combined Road-Rail Transport (UIRR) reported.
The end of 2024 brought an improvement in the results of the combined transport industry in Europe. This was contributed to by the resumption of traffic on key rail trunk lines: the St. Gotthard Base Tunnel and on railway lines in the Valencia region in Spain, which were affected by the flooding in October last year. Currently, the industry sentiment indicator measured by UIRR is defined as "neutral" for the period from January to December 2025. The moderate optimism of intermodal transport operators is influenced by the slowdown in the economic situation in the European industry and the large number of renovation works on important trunk lines currently being carried out and those planned for this year, e.g. on the Hamburg-Berlin line.
Read also:German Railways prepares to close Berlin-Hamburg line
Combined Transport has proven to be reliable and resilient to the disruptions that have recently occurred in supply chains. For this reason, it should be supported as a way to reduce the external costs of the transport industry, reduce congestion on the roads, improve the safety and stability of supply chains. UIRR has launched the second edition of the CT4EU campaign, which aims to make European Union leaders aware of the advantages of intermodal transport and its importance in supporting economic growth.
"Combined transport cannot wait for the development of new technologies or expensive investments in alternative fuel infrastructure. The existing transport infrastructure is sufficient to enable combined transport to make a significant contribution to strengthening Europe's competitiveness and resilience. Completion of the ongoing EU legislative initiatives and correct implementation of existing law will undoubtedly further improve this efficiency," commented Ralf-Charley Schultze, Director General of UIRR.