PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF EUROPEAN RAIL FREIGHT CORRIDORS

Abstract

Since their introduction under EU Regulation 913/2010, Rail Freight Corridors have been intended to enhance the competitiveness, interoperability, and efficiency of international rail freight. However, more than a decade later, persistent operational, infrastructural, and coordination challenges suggest that the expected benefits have not been fully achieved. Existing studies often focus on individual corridors, specific performance or policy aspects, leaving a gap in comprehensive, comparative analyses based on harmonized indicators. This paper addresses that gap by evaluating the market and operational performance of all corridors using publicly available key performance indicators. The analysis covers offered and requested capacity, utilization of pre-arranged paths, average planned train speeds, and train volumes at border crossings. Despite institution-al progress, the findings show limited improvement in overall efficiency, as enduring structural and operational barriers continue to hinder rail’s competitiveness across Europe.