Rail Transport Market Report 2026

The rail transport market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $572.46 billion in 2025 to $607.84 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of national rail infrastructure, growth in bulk commodity transportation, increasing urban population reliance on rail transit, government investment in public transportation, development of intermodal freight corridors.

The rail transport market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $790.16 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expansion of low-emission transportation policies, rising demand for high-capacity freight movement, increasing adoption of smart rail systems, growth of cross-border rail connectivity, modernization of aging rail assets. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing electrification of rail networks, expansion of high-speed passenger rail services, growing deployment of automated train control systems, rising investment in rail freight modernization, enhanced focus on rail network capacity optimization.

The growth of the rail transport services market is supported by steady economic expansion anticipated in many developed and developing countries. For example, in April 2024, the International Monetary Fund reported that the global economy is expected to maintain a growth rate of 3.2% in both 2024 and 2025, consistent with the pace observed in 2023. Recovering commodity prices, following a significant decline in earlier years, are also projected to contribute to market growth. Developed economies are likely to record stable growth during the forecast period, while emerging economies are expected to expand at a slightly faster rate. This sustained economic progress is expected to encourage greater investment in end-user industries, thereby supporting market growth over the forecast period.

Rising demand for rail freight transport is expected to contribute to the expansion of the rail transport market. Rail freight involves transporting goods via trains rather than by road, air, or sea, enabling larger cargo volumes to be moved across long distances. Increased rail freight activity can stimulate new rail construction, as more trains and infrastructure are required to accommodate growing volumes. For instance, in June 2024, the Office of Rail and Road in the United Kingdom reported that freight movement in Great Britain reached 15.76 billion net tonne-kilometers between April 2023 and March 2024, slightly higher than 15.73 billion recorded during the previous year. Therefore, growing demand for rail freight transport is helping drive the rail transport market.

Companies in the rail transport sector are introducing rail tracking technologies to improve efficiency and strengthen their competitive position. Rail tracking solutions comprise advanced systems designed to monitor and optimize train movements and railway operations. For example, in June 2023, Vizion, a U.S.-based API-driven logistics technology provider, introduced an intermodal rail tracking capability. This feature complements its existing ocean tracking services and gives shippers, logistics companies, and other users continuous visibility as containers move from sea transport to inland rail networks. The new solution simplifies the tracking process by eliminating lengthy authorization procedures and the need for separate transactions for ocean and rail tracking.

Major companies operating in the rail transport market are Deutsche Bahn, BNSF, JSC Russian Railways, Indian Railways, SNCF, Union Pacific Corporation, East Japan Railway Company, CSX Corporation, Central Japan Railway Company, Canadian National Railway Company, Aurizon Holdings Ltd., China State Railway Group Co. Ltd., Container Corp. of India Ltd., Japan Freight Railway Co., KiwiRail Ltd., PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), Qube Holdings Ltd., Twentieth Super Pace Nominees Pty Ltd, Abellio ScotRail, Arriva Rail London, Avanti West Coast, c2c, Caledonian Sleeper, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Eurostar, Govia Thameslink Railway, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, Grand Central, Merseyrail, Virgin Trains, ScotRail, London Overground, Heathrow Connect, ČD Cargo, České dráhy, Die Länderbahn, GW Train Regio, Emperor Franz Joseph Railway, Căile Ferate Române, CFR Marfă, Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC, Norfolk Southern Corporation, The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, SOO Line Railroad Company, Kansas City Southern, Canadian Pacific Railway, Hudson Bay Railway Co., Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway, Rampa Express De Mexico, Unitrade, Haf Logistica Internacional, SILT Corporation, Brazil Great Southern Railway, Companhia do Metropolitano de São Paulo, Companhia Paulista de Estradas de Ferro, Ferrocarril Transandino, Perurail, Belmond Andean Explorer, Ferrovías Central Andina, Estrada de Ferro Central do Brasil, Saudi Railway Company, Israel Railways Ltd., Iraq Republic Railways Co., Middle East Rail, Turkish State Railways (TCDD), Arabian Railway Company, Egyptian National Railways (ENR), Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), Transnet Freight Rail, Nigerian Railway Corporation.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the rail transport market in 2025. Western Europe was the second largest region in the rail transport market. The regions covered in the rail transport market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the rail transport market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The rail transport market includes revenues earned by entities by providing transportation because it is unaffected by traffic and adverse weather conditions and can carry large amounts of goods. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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