Combined Transport in Europe Starts 2026 with 4.92% Drop

Why It Matters

The drop underscores how infrastructure disruptions can quickly erode intermodal freight volumes, forcing logistics firms to rethink routing, capacity planning, and investment in alternative corridors.

Key Takeaways

• Europe CT volume down 4.92% YoY Q1 2026.
• German rail line closures cause 20% CT performance drop 2024‑25.
• Positive growth in Poland unable to offset German losses.
• UIRR blames poorly organized maintenance for decline.
• Intermodal freight operators face higher costs and delays.

Pulse Analysis

Combined transport remains a cornerstone of Europe’s logistics network, linking rail, road, and maritime modes to move goods efficiently. Yet the sector’s resilience is being tested as rail infrastructure projects, especially in Germany, create bottlenecks that ripple through supply chains. Analysts note that while intermodal volumes grew modestly in markets like Poland, the overall European picture is now negative, reflecting the outsized influence of Germany’s rail network on continental freight flows.

Germany’s ambitious rail‑modernisation programme has backfired in the short term. Extensive line closures for maintenance have eliminated critical bypass routes, forcing freight operators onto longer, costlier road legs or congested alternative rail corridors. UIRR’s data shows a 20% contraction in CT performance between 2024 and 2025, a stark contrast to the 1.5% growth seen the previous year. The lack of coordinated scheduling and communication with freight customers has amplified delays, raising operational expenses and prompting shippers to reconsider reliance on rail‑centric intermodal solutions.

The broader industry response is likely to focus on diversification and digital coordination. Companies are investing in real‑time visibility platforms to reroute shipments dynamically and mitigate the impact of rail outages. Policy makers may also accelerate funding for cross‑border rail upgrades to reduce dependency on single‑country networks. In the medium term, the sector could see a shift toward more resilient multimodal strategies, blending rail with short‑haul trucking and inland waterways to safeguard against future infrastructure disruptions.