For the first time since 2014, Europeans are using trains more than buses — a sign that many are changing how they travel.
Here's what to know
2024 data shows that rail travel is climbing while cars remain the main way people travel across the E.U. According to Euronews, citing the latest Eurostat data, cars accounted for 69.2% of EU passenger travel in 2024, even as its share has gradually declined over the years.
Compared with 2014, rail's share increased by 0.9 percentage points, while cars fell by 2.9 points and buses declined by 1.3 points.
At 7.3%, buses, coaches, and trolleybuses were just behind rail, which made up 7.5% of passenger travel in 2024. Sea travel remained the smallest category at 0.4%.
Air travel saw the biggest shift of any mode, rising 3.6 percentage points over the same period.
More background
No EU country relied on cars more than Lithuania, where 83.7% of travel happened by car. The Netherlands, at 77%, and Finland, at more than 75%, were also among the bloc's most car-dependent countries.
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Croatia stood out for air travel, which made up 45.6% of passenger journeys there. Bulgaria, at 30.3%, and Cyprus, at 25.3%, also had notably high shares of air travel.
Hungary had the highest rail share at 11.3%, while Austria was also above 10%. In Malta, Ireland, and Hungary, buses continued to play a larger role, reflecting their more limited rail networks.
Where can I learn more?
Here are some more stories on how travel is changing across Europe.
• Deutsche Bahn and SNCF are opening a new direct high-speed link between Munich and Paris.
• Spain's Renfe is launching a new high-speed service connecting Barcelona with Toulouse.
• Rail Baltica would build a high-speed line linking Poland, the Baltics, and Estonia.
• The EU's planned gas car phaseout could slowly erode the bloc's road-heavy travel patterns.
• Worldwide, electric vehicle sales are climbing even as cars remain the default choice.
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