The rail sector has lost €50 billion since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic. This is the conclusions of a study undertaken by the Community of European Railways (ERC), which estimates losses for the sector stand at more than €27 billion for 2020 and some €23 billion for 2021.
These losses, which represent almost 33% of annual turnover, mainly affect passenger transport. With regard to this, losses amount to €46 billion, which represents a share of almost 41% of turnover in 2020 and 36% in 2021.
In the freight sector, these losses are limited to €4 billion. Despite being affected less than passenger transport, the freight transport sector has seen 12% of its turnover disappear in 2020 and 10% in 2021.
“The amount of railway revenue lost in the EU has reached the alarming level of €50 billion. If nothing is done about this, it will have a lasting effect”, said Executive Director of the ERC, Alberto Mazzola. At the same time, he also emphasised the fact that rail systems have been “resilient” since the beginning of the pandemic. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)