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Intercity Passenger Rail Transport in Germany Industry Data and Analysis
Delays and missed connections – which are predominantly due to operational issues such as engineering works, signalling faults and staff shortages – are undermining the appeal of the service, particularly for business travellers and on more complex journeys. As a result, customer segments prioritising reliability are increasingly turning to alternative modes of transport such as private cars or air travel. Deutsche Bahn is countering this with a long-term restructuring and modernisation programme, the effects of which, however, are only likely to be felt in the medium term. The Deutschlandticket is intensifying competitive pressure in long-distance travel, as there is a shift towards local transport, particularly on shorter routes. This is leading to adjustments in fare structures, causing average revenue per passenger to fall. Furthermore, the uncertainty surrounding the development of train path charges is undermining operators’ planning certainty. Although nominal track access charges are falling, the simultaneous reduction in government subsidies is leading to rising effective costs, putting margins under pressure and making investment decisions more difficult. Operators are responding to this with efficiency measures and a stronger focus on high-demand routes. Positive demand drivers stem from the rise in fuel prices this year, which makes car journeys more expensive and positions rail as a more cost-effective and price-stable alternative; this is leading to rising demand for long-distance travel, particularly among price-sensitive households. In 2026, industry turnover is expected to grow by 1.2 per cent to €7.4 billion. This corresponds to an average annual growth rate of 8.9 per cent since 2021.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released August 2026.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany operates under the WZ industry code H49.10DE. The sector encompasses the transport of passengers on long-distance rail services and generates additional revenue from sleeping and dining carriages. The operation of railway infrastructure, local passenger rail services and railway stations does not form part of the sector’s business. Related terms covered in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany include intercity express (ice), intercity (ic), eurocity (ec), eurocity-express (ece), high-speed train (tgv), low-cost airlines, subsidies, grants and public local transport (öpnv).
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany include Standard train tickets , Discount tickets and Other services.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany include DB Fernverkehr AG, Flixtrain GmbH and Internationale Gesellschaft für Eisenbahnverkehr IGE GmbH & Co. KG.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany in 2026?
The market size of the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany is €7.4bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany in 2026?
There are 30 businesses in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.6 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany?
The Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany?
The Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
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 growing at a CAGR of 8.9 % between 2021 and 2026.
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 industry in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany are DB Fernverkehr AG, Flixtrain GmbH and Internationale Gesellschaft für Eisenbahnverkehr IGE GmbH & Co. KG
What does the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany include?
Standard train tickets and Discount tickets are part of the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in the Intercity Passenger Rail Transport industry 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.
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