# European railway transport trends

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/european-railway-transport-trends
> Updated: 2026-10-18T17:32:47.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

Recent data from Lithuania and Romania reveal diverging trends in railway transport sectors during 2026.

In Lithuania, the first half of the year saw an 11.2% increase in passenger volumes, totaling 3 million travelers, while freight volumes declined by 4.9%. The rise in passengers may be linked to a state decision to compensate 50% of ticket prices for two months. Despite falling freight volumes, freight revenue in Lithuania increased by 6.6%.

Conversely, Romania reported a 5.8% decrease in railway passenger numbers during the second quarter of 2026, with approximately 15.5 million passengers traveling by train. However, the Romanian rail freight sector experienced growth, with the volume of goods transported increasing by 9.3% to reach 9.786 million tons. This freight increase was driven largely by the transport of coke and petroleum refinery products.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-18: Romania economic update: Inflation warnings and shifting transport trends

Romania faces rising inflation forecasts and a 5.8% decline in rail passengers, while BCR launches digital investment consultancy via its George platform.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-railway-passenger-numbers-fall-in-q2-2026

### 2026-09-19: Lithuanian railway passenger numbers rise as freight volumes decline

Lithuanian railway passenger numbers rose 11.2% in H1 2026, potentially aided by state ticket subsidies, while freight volumes declined by 4.9% despite an increase in freight revenue.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lithuanian-railway-passenger-numbers-rise-as-freight-volumes-decline

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Cite as: European railway transport trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/european-railway-transport-trends