Stabilising the performance of combined transport in Europe
The intermodal transport industry in Europe recorded weaker results in the first quarter of 2024 by 3.89 per cent compared to the beginning of the last year – the International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport (UIRR) informed. The decline in the results of this transport sector was smaller than in the previous quarters, and the market shows signs of a return to the positive trend in the following months.
The weaker performance of combined transport was influenced by continued lower demand for consumer goods in Europe and disruptions to rail traffic caused by strikes and track renovation works. According to UIRR, there is a visible stabilisation of the economic situation, and a slight increase in combined transport was recorded in some European countries. The industry sentiment index has improved and is now neutral. Results are expected to improve in the coming months once normal rail traffic is restored in the Alpine Frejus and Saint Gothard Base Tunnels – some of the most important transport mainlines in Europe. If there are no serious disruptions in railway traffic, such as those that occurred last year, a return to a positive trend in the results of the combined transport sector is possible in the following quarters.
“The first three months of 2024 saw a small decline in Combined Transport performance as the conditions are slowly stabilising. The disruption to global container flows, some strikes, infrastructure works-related disturbances and the continued weak performance of the EU economy have weighed on Combined Transport, while some markets have started to show a rebound already”, comments Ralf-Charley Schultze, President of UIRR.