PASSENGER TRANSPORT
In September 2023 rail operators transported 32.1 m passengers, which is 2.5 m (+8.5%) more than in September 2022. The transport performance exceeded 2.2 bn pass-km and rose by 0.2 bn (+11.5%) compared to September 2022. The operational performance, which amounted to 15.7 m train-km, was up by 0.5 m train-km (+3%). In September 2023 the average distance travelled by a rail passenger reached 68.8 km, almost 2 km longer than in September 2022.
The number of passengers, transport and operational performance, as well as the average distance in September 2023, are the highest values achieved for this month in more than a decade. The number of people who used rail services in September 2023 was one of the highest since the beginning of 2023 (there were more passengers only in May - 32.3 m people).
Almost 1.1 m people more travelled by rail in September (+3.5%) than in August. In the transport performance there was a decrease by almost 0.5 bn pass-km (-17.4%) on a month-on-month basis. There was a drop by 1.1 m train-km (-6.4%) in the operational performance. The average distance travelled by a rail passenger in September was 17 km shorter than in August 2023.
In passenger numbers September 2023 proved to be better even compared to the summer months of July and August. This good performance was driven by higher passenger numbers on agglomeration and regional routes. This means that rail is a viable choice for commuting to work and school. The choice of train for such journeys is undoubtedly determined by economic and ecological reasons. The railways are steadily developing but many aspects still need to be improved. Ongoing works on network, timetable changes, delays - these are all constant difficulties in daily journey planning. The same is also true of heavy traffic during peak hours. However, in every month of 2023 the number of passengers exceeded the values of the corresponding month of 2022. If this trend continues, private carriers and public transport operators will have to adapt their services to the needs of travellers – comments Ignacy Góra, President of the Office of Rail Transport.
Since the beginning of 2023, more than 276.1 m people have chosen rail as a means of transport, the transport performance amounted to more than 19.5 bn pass-km and the operational performance to more than 142.8 m train-km.
Compared to January-September 2022, it is an increase by over 27.1 m rail passengers (+10.9%), in the transport performance by 1.7 bn pass-km (+9.7%) and in the operational performance by almost 3.1 m train-km (+2.2%).
Detailed data on rail passenger transport are available at dane.utk.gov.pl
RAIL FREIGHT
In September 2023 19.9 m tonnes of goods were transported by rail companies, which is a decrease by 0.6 m tonnes (-2.9%) compared to September 2022. The transport performance reached over 5.2 bn tonne-km and was 0.02 bn tonne-km (-0.4%) lower than a year earlier. The operational performance reached 7.1 m train-km, which is a decrease by 0.2 m (-2.9%) compared to September 2022. The average transport distance of one tonne of goods in September 2023 was 264 km – almost 7 km longer than in September 2022.
September was slightly better than August in terms of total weight carried, transport and operational performance. The weight of goods transported by rail was 0.7 m tonnes (+3.5%) higher, the transport performance increased by 0.1 bn tonne-km (+2.7%) and the operational performance was 0.1 m train-km (+1.7%) higher than in August 2023. The average transport distance of one tonne of goods in September 2023 dropped by 2 km on a month-on-month basis.
September – in terms of the weight of goods carried by rail companies and the transport performance – was the best month of the third quarter. The year-on-year decline of these parameters was the lowest in several months. The situation on the eastern border has severely impacted usual transport routes, forcing companies to look for alternative supply chains. The stagnation in the eurozone and the decline in sea freight rates are other unfavourable trends for rail freight companies. The market needs time to adjust to the new conditions – comments Ignacy Góra, President of the Office of Rail Transport.
Since the beginning of 2023 almost 173.1 m tonnes of goods have been transported by rail opertators, the transport performance amounted to 46.3 bn tonne-km and the operational performance exceeded 63.5 m train-km.
Compared to the same period in 2022, it is a drop by almost 14.3 m tonnes (-7.6%) in the total weight, almost 0.4 bn tonne-km (-0.8%) in the transport performance and 1.7 m train-km (-2.5%) in the operational performance.
Detailed data on rail freight are available at dane.utk.gov.pl