Rail freight transport: Growth of 6.8 % between 2005 and 2006 in EU-25

The total performance of rail freight transport in the EU-25 was at 419 billion tkm in 2006, representing a growth of 6.8% compared to 2005. In absolute terms, the main growth between 2005 and 2006 was registered in Germany (+ 11.6 billion tkm), while Latvia recorded the largest absolute decrease (- 2.9 billion tkm). The average weight of goods loaded onto trains in the EU-25 was estimated at 516 tonnes in 2006. This average was however above 1,400 tonnes in three Baltic countries. The highest shares of international freight transport in the total freight transport were observed in Estonia (94%) and in Latvia (87%). This share was between 50% and 60% for Luxembourg, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia and Greece, whereas it was equal to 40% for the EU-25 as a whole. As far as rail transport of goods is concerned, products belonging to 'Machinery, transport equipment, manufactured and miscellaneous goods' were by far the most forwarded in 2006 in the EU-25 Member States. As regards intermodal transport units, and more specifically rail transport by containers and swap bodies, the average distance performed has decreased between 2005 and 2006 within the EU-25 from 412 km to 407 km.