Combined transport in Europe back in decline in Q3

The causes are familiar: German corridors running at minimum capacity, extremely low water levels on the Rhine that disrupted terminals as well as barges, inadequate alternative routes and rising track access charges. All of this comes on top of low economic growth and high inflation.

The third-quarter figure ends a brief recovery. The year started with a 4.92% drop in consignments in the first quarter, which UIRR attributed to intermodal trains not being given adequate bypass routes around fully closed lines in Germany and elsewhere. At the same time, the weak economy freed up trucking capacity, making a switch back to road an easy choice for shippers.

The second quarter then closed with a modest increase of 0.29%. “This is a relatively strong result considering the severe headwinds that the sector faces”, UIRR said in August. Growth came mostly from France, where authorities continue to promote CT and fund intermodal equipment, as well as from Poland and the Baltic states. Germany and Italy, two of the largest markets for intermodal transport, held back the overall result.

In other words, two of the first three quarters of 2026 ended below last year’s levels, and the only positive one was barely above zero. Sentiment followed a similar path: UIRR members rated the outlook as slightly negative in both the first and second quarters, while it is now negative for the period up to 30 September 2027.

This story was originally published by RailFreight.com. Read the full story at RailFreight.com →