Europe-wide gains for trains and buses

The development of the overall European market was supported in many European countries at the beginning of 2018 by positive environmental conditions with increasing em­­ployment and rising incomes. Electromobility is in­­creasing in relevance across Europe in tenders and fleet renewals
in bus transport, supported by the diesel driving bans announced in many cities.

• New growth and competition impulses can be identified, including in the following countries:
  • Finland, Lithuania, Moldova and Norway, which
    are preparing to open up their railway markets; Norway will award its first tendered transport contract in October.
  • Lithuania has separated its traffic and infrastructure operations; Finland is outsourcing new companies for its train fleet and real estate.
  • French Senate approves rail reform with market opening in rail passenger transport.
• Slight increase in volume sold in European rail passenger transport in
  • Germany,
  • the Czech Republic due to the expansion of CD in international long-distance transport, especially on the Prague – Vienna – Graz and Prague – Berlin – Hamburg lines, as well as through intramodal competition with LEO Express and RegioJet,
  • Spain due to the accelerated distribution of low-cost high-speed tickets and quality improvements by Renfe.
• European long-distance bus services remain strong due to new partnerships and general frameworks. In May 2018, the EU Transport Committee decided to introduce a bus toll from 2020. FlixBus also remains Europe’s market leader.
  • Bus operators National Express (GB), Ouibus (FR), Marino Bus (IT) and ALSA (ES) are forming an alliance in response to FlixBus’s dominance.
  • FlixBus has entered into a distribution partnership with the Swiss Eurobus, which has received a license for three long-distance routes in Switzerland until 2020.