Intercity Passenger Rail Transport in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Frankfurt, Germany
Last Updated: April 2024
WZ H49.10DERevenue
€7.0bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
€XXX.Xm
Employees
24,730
Businesses
25
Wages
€X.Xbn
Intercity Passenger Rail Transport in Germany industry analysis
The industry players are benefiting from the current urbanisation, as their focus is on connecting major cities with each other. As the number of cars per capita is also falling in major cities and environmental awareness is growing, there is great growth potential for the industry. However, competition from long-distance bus and airlines has intensified in recent years, for example due to the liberalisation of the long-distance bus market. Nevertheless, the long-distance rail transport sector has become significantly more competitive in terms of price compared to competing modes of transport in recent years, although this has come at the cost of lower revenue per passenger. Many long-distance trains were only running at low capacity in 2020 and 2021 and the economic upheaval caused by the crisis has led to lower demand from private and business customers compared to the pre-crisis years. The pandemic led to a 45% slump in sales in 2020. In 2024, industry sales are expected to grow by 12.2% and reach €6.9 billion. This corresponds to an average annual decline of 0.4% since 2019.Due to the coronavirus crisis, the consumer and business climate deteriorated significantly in 2020. This resulted in considerably lower demand for sector services. The business and consumer climate is expected to improve slightly in 2024, which should have a positive impact on the development of sector sales. In the current year, electricity prices are likely to fall slightly compared to 2022, but they are still likely to be at a higher level than before the war in Ukraine, which will put pressure on the industry in terms of costs.For the period from 2024 to 2029, IBISWorld expects average annual growth of 5.1% and an industry turnover of 8.9 billion euros in 2029. Government subsidies for rail transport are increasing sharply compared to the 2010s due to climate change. Due to the increased government support for rail transport and the growing relevance of smaller industry players, there are likely to be more industry companies and employees in 2029 than in the current year.
Trends and Insights
- Most of Deutsche Bahn's trains have exceeded their planned service life of 30 years. Outdated trains are prone to faults and contribute to delays.
- In recent years, the demand for supersaver tickets has risen steadily. It can be assumed that the importance of supersaver tickets will continue to increase in the future.
- The Central region has the largest share of companies in the sector. This is partly due to the fact that the Central region also has the largest share of the population.
- Competition in long-distance rail transport in Germany is moderate. Internal competition can even be described as low, but this could change with changing conditions for any new players in long-distance rail transport.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €7.0bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Deutsche Bahn records the lowest punctuality rate in eight years due to extensive roadworks
- Deutsche Bahn is more unpunctual than it has been for eight years. Only 52% of ICE and IC trains reached their destination on time in November 2023 and around 75% of long-distance trains were held up by at least one roadworks.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
The increasing competition between rail and long-distance bus companies will increasingly spread to rural areas in the future
- In rural areas, the railway network is often inadequate and changes require long-term planning.
Biggest companies in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport in Germany
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue (€m)
2024 |
|---|---|---|
DB Fernverkehr AG | 5,623.0 | |
DB Fernverkehr AG | 5,623.0 | |
DB Fernverkehr AG | 5,623.0 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 7 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Regular train tickets, Saver tickets and Other services. Regular train tickets is the largest segment of the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport in Germany.
Trends and Insights
Regular rail tickets dominate industry sales, with Bahncard 100 sales likely to increase
- The majority of industry revenue in the current year is generated by regular ticket sales, regardless of where and how these are distributed.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Passenger Air Transport in Germany
Complementors
- Urban Passenger Land Transport in Germany
- Taxi Operation in Germany
- Long-Distance Bus & Coach Transport in Germany
International industries
- Rail Transportation in the US
- Rail Transportation in Canada
- Rail Passenger Transport in Australia
- Rail Transport in New Zealand
- Intercity Passenger Rail Transport in the UK
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The industry comprises the transport of passengers in long-distance rail transport and generates additional revenue through sleeping and dining carriages. The operation of railway infrastructure, local rail passenger transport and railway stations is not part of the industry's business.
What's included in this industry?
Regular train ticketsSaver ticketsCompanies
DB Fernverkehr AGDB Fernverkehr AGDB Fernverkehr AGPurchase this report to view all 7 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
INTERCITYEXPRESS (ICE)INTERCITY (IC)EUROCITY (EC)EUROCITY-EXPRESS (ECE)TRAIN À GRANDE VITESSE (TGV)AFFORDABLE FLIGHTSUBVENTIONSADDITIONSLOCAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT (PUBLIC TRANSPORT)Industry Code
WZ 49.10 - Intercity Passenger Rail Transport in Germany
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Most of Deutsche Bahn's trains have exceeded their planned service life of 30 years. Outdated trains are prone to faults and contribute to delays.
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
In recent years, the demand for supersaver tickets has risen steadily. It can be assumed that the importance of supersaver tickets will continue to increase in the future.
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The Central region has the largest share of companies in the sector. This is partly due to the fact that the Central region also has the largest share of the population.
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Competition in long-distance rail transport in Germany is moderate. Internal competition can even be described as low, but this could change with changing conditions for any ...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
DB is planning to use artificial intelligence in freight, local and long-distance trains. The long-term goal is to create a real-time timetable in which all delays can be inc...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of DB Fernverkehr AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of DB Fernverkehr AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of DB Fernverkehr AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 4 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for DB Fernverkehr AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for DB Fernverkehr AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for DB Fernverkehr AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 4 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The trains in long-distance rail transport are almost exclusively powered by electricity. The global market price for crude oil is nevertheless very relevant for the industry...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
The high electricity price is weighing on the industry's profit margin. Due to the war in Ukraine, the industrial electricity price is at a significantly higher level than be...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Germany include:
- German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
- European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
- United Nations Comtrade
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany in 2024?
The market size of the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany is €7.0bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport in Germany industry in 2024?
There are 25 businesses in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport market in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport market in Germany are DB Fernverkehr AG, DB Fernverkehr AG and DB Fernverkehr AG
What does the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport in Germany include?
Regular train tickets and Saver tickets are part of the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in Germany is DB Fernverkehr AG.
How competitive is the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany.
