In 2010-2019 the rail utilization rate, i.e. the average number of train journeys per capita in a region, rose from 6.8 to 8.7. In 2020 due to pandemic restrictions, this rate dropped to 5.5. The regions where rail transport has the highest usage rate have not changed - these are Pomorskie, Mazowieckie and Dolnośląskie voivodships. Only these three regions had better results than the average for the whole country.
The new study (in Polish only) shows how this indicator has changed in the recent decade. For each region, there are detailed data on the number of checked-in passengers and the share of long-distance, regional and agglomeration transport.
- The data analysis for 2010-2020 shows how some voivodships have successfully engaged in the development of passenger transport. In these regions, the rail carriers’ offer had a visible impact on the increasing number of passengers. Unfortunately, during the last year it was abruptly cut as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. When we look closely at how the market developed until 2019, we can safely assume that it will gradually rebuild itself and return on the path from before the pandemic - comments Ignacy Góra, President of the Office of Rail Transport.
The data for 2010-2020 show how varied the use of passenger railways is in different regions. Since 2016 there has been an upward trend, mainly in more urbanized voivodships. A very large increase in the number of passengers was recorded, for example, in Dolnośląskie voivodeship. This upward trend is also visible in Mazowieckie, Łódzkie, Pomorskie and Wielkopolskie voivodships.
The situation is different in voivodships where rail transport is less popular among travellers. The outflow of passengers is recorded, among others, for Lubelskie and Opolskie voivodships. In Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Zachodniopomorskie voivodships the number of passengers has remained at a similar level for years.
The study contains a separate file with data and rail transport usage rates for each voivodeships.
