Rail freight transport: publication of results from 2025 end-customer survey

Year of issue 2025
Date of issue 2025.11.07

In 2025 the Bundesnetzagentur carried out a survey among companies and business associations on their views about current developments in the rail freight sector.

The survey focused on the market and the variety of services available, the effects of strikes and alternatives in the rail freight sector. The results are based on the responses from 336 companies and business associations.

Declining customer satisfaction in the rail freight sector

The level of satisfaction with rail freight transport among the companies surveyed has continued to decline, in particular with respect to transport times, punctuality and compensation from railway undertakings. This trend applies to all types of consignment, although full train loads had better ratings than single wagon loads.

Rail transport: infrastructure as the key

More than half of those surveyed stated that rail freight traffic accounted for no more than 20% of their total traffic. Only about 10% mainly or solely used rail freight transport. At the same time, 52% of those surveyed had a strong interest in using rail freight transport more. The main obstacles were said to be inadequate infrastructure expansion, a lack of reliability and high investment requirements.

Companies saw the biggest hurdle to be the limited capacity and unreliability of the railway infrastructure. Congestion on routes, uncoordinated construction works and a lack of sidings hindered shifting more traffic to the railway network. Companies considered the most important measures to be expanding track infrastructure, reactivating sidings, and improving terminals and marshalling yards. In order to increase rail transport, improvements were therefore needed above all to the infrastructural basis.

Strikes put planning certainty for rail transport at risk

Many companies stated that strikes were a big problem for planning certainty for rail transport. The consequences were diversions at short notice, cancellations and a large amount of reorganisation. About 41% reported production outages, while 58% of those surveyed considered an emergency service during strikes to be important.

Rail freight transport: alternative modes of transport constantly important

More than 90% of the companies surveyed are able to use alternative modes of transport such as road and water transport. Only 8% depend entirely on rail transport. Reasons for switching to alternatives were better reliability and better value for money. Those continuing to use rail transport value favourable terms and conditions and sustainability.

Background

The Bundesnetzagentur conducts regular surveys on customer satisfaction among the users of rail freight and rail passenger services. This enables the Bundesnetzagentur to gain direct feedback based on practical experience, which it takes into account in its analyses and decisions relating to the railway market. In this context, the Bundesnetzagentur attaches particular importance to the involvement of recognised consumer associations.