In March 2025, over 17.9 million tonnes of cargo were transported by rail, which is 0.7 million tonnes less (-3.9%) than in March 2024. The freight transport performance, measured in tonne-kilometres, exceeded 4.7 billion, representing a decrease of more than 0.2 billion tonne-kilometres (-4.9%) compared to the previous year. Operational performance, which amounted to nearly 6.6 million train-kilometres, dropped by 0.4 million train-kilometres year-on-year (-5.1%). The average distance for transporting one tonne of cargo in March was 262.4 km – nearly 3 km less than in March 2024.
Since 2012, a lower cargo volume in March was recorded only in 2016 (17.8 million tonnes). As for transport and operational performance, weaker results were last seen in March 2020 (4.4 billion tonne-kilometres and 6.4 million train-kilometres, respectively).
Nevertheless, the results achieved last month for key freight transport indicators are the highest so far in 2025. Compared to February, March saw an increase of nearly 1.3 million tonnes (+7.7%) in cargo volume. Freight transport performance increased by almost 0.5 billion tonne-kilometres (+10.6%), and operational performance rose by 0.6 million train-kilometres (+9.9%). The average distance for transporting one tonne of cargo in March was 7 km longer than in the previous month.
“Since 2023, there has been a downward trend in the freight segment. The beginning of 2025 in freight transport shows that it is increasingly difficult to reach monthly cargo volumes of 20 million tonnes. The demand for transporting certain goods, such as coal, is changing, and the railway sector must adapt to these changes and offer new solutions. Despite the new challenges, more companies are seeing opportunities to profit in this market. On the other hand, reports of problems with settling current liabilities by some operators are concerning,” says Dr. Eng. Ignacy Góra, President of the Office of Rail Transport.
In the first three months of 2025, the railway handled over 52.2 million tonnes of cargo – nearly 2 million tonnes less (-3.6%) compared to the same period in 2024. The freight transport performance of almost 13.4 billion tonne-kilometres was 0.7 billion tonne-kilometres lower (-4.7%) year-on-year. Operational performance exceeded 18.9 million train-kilometres, which is 1 million train-kilometres less (-4.8%) than in the first quarter of the previous year.
