Rail Logistics Market Report 2025

This report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The rail logistics market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $256.85 billion in 2024 to $267.61 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to low cost of transportation and modal shift, environmental responsibility, infrastructure developments, restrictions associated with cross-border freight transport.

The rail logistics market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $299.41 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to surge in development and testing of autonomous trains, demand for freight wagons, availability of custom-made and technologically advanced wagons, upsurge in budget allocation, and growth of e-commerce and online retail. Major trends in the forecast period include integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning, development of high-speed rail, emergence of smart railways, expansion of rail logistics services in emerging economies, and growth of intermodal transportation.

The growth of global trade is expected to drive the expansion of the rail logistics market in the future. Global trade, or international trade, involves the exchange of goods and services across international borders. Several factors contribute to the rise in global trade, particularly increasing globalization, which boosts the demand for efficient cross-border transportation services. As the volume of commodities being transported internationally increases, the need for effective and cost-efficient transportation methods becomes more critical. For example, in February 2024, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a US-based government agency providing official macroeconomic and industry statistics, reported that exports of goods and services grew by $35 billion, or 1.2%, in 2023, reaching $3.05 trillion, compared to 2022. Thus, the rise in global trade is expected to propel the growth of the rail logistics market.

Major companies operating in the rail logistics market are developing innovative technology, such as the multipurpose digital experience center, to serve customers better in this market. The digital experience center is a hub for developing and executing cutting-edge signaling solutions across urban, mainline, and freight operations. For instance, in December 2023, Alstom SA, a France-based manufacturing company, launched the technologically advanced digital experience center. The center's programs are designed to improve rail logistics efficiency, and the purpose is to implement integrated cybersecurity, end-to-end project testing, urban, mainline, freight, and mining projects, as well as to develop innovations in remote system monitoring and troubleshooting. Additionally, the center's design can support over 7 million hours of engineering work for projects.

In March 2023, Trinity Industries Inc., a US-based industrial corporation, acquired RSI Logistics Inc. for approximately $70 million. With this acquisition, Trinity will expand its service offerings and make rail transportation a more compelling mode. Further, the acquisition added logistics services, terminal operations, and intermodal transportation to Trinity's existing portfolio, including railcar leasing and management services, manufacturing, maintenance, and modifications. RSI Logistics Inc. is a US-based rail logistics services company that offers railcar tracking software and logistics solutions to improve rail transportation.

Major companies operating in the rail logistics market are Meta Platforms Inc., United Parcel Service Inc., FedEx Corporation, Mærsk A/S, Deutsche Bahn AG, Schenker Deutschland AG, Deutsche Bahn International Operations GmbH, Kuehne Nagel International AG, Union Pacific Corp., C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., Canadian National Railway Co., Nippon Express Holdings Inc., CEVA Logistics Inc., Geodis SA, Gebrüder Weiss GmbH, Trinity Industries Inc., Japan Freight Railway Co., Brookfield Business Partners LP, SBB Cargo International AG, VTG AG, Russian Railways OJSC, BLR Logistiks Ltd., Tschudi Logistics Holding AS, GeoMetrix Rail Logistics Inc., CTL Logistics Sp. z o.o, Rail Cargo Group, Interport Global Logistics Private Limited, Dan Transport Group A/S.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the rail logistics market in 2024. The regions covered in the rail logistics market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the rail logistics market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The rail logistics market includes revenues earned by entities by railway signaling and control systems services, rail freight management software and related transloading services, railway safety and security, customer support and logistics management, rail freight services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

Rail logistics refers to the planning, coordinating, and executing transportation activities involving the movement of goods via rail networks. It encompasses a wide range of activities, including the scheduling of train services, the management of freight operations, the tracking of shipments, and the optimization of routes and resources.

The main types of rail logistics market covered are intermodals, tank wagons and freight cars. Intermodal transportation allows for the integration of various transportation modes to create a more efficient and flexible logistics network. It is commonly used for transporting goods over long distances, particularly in international trade where goods often need to traverse multiple countries and regions. The operational area involved are domestic and international which are used by various end user industries including automotive, manufacturing, telecommunication, retail, and technology.

The main types of rail logistics market covered are intermodals, tank wagons and freight cars. Intermodal transportation allows for the integration of various transportation modes to create a more efficient and flexible logistics network. It is commonly used for transporting goods over long distances, particularly in international trade where goods often need to traverse multiple countries and regions. The operational area involved are domestic and international which are used by various end user industries including automotive, manufacturing, telecommunication, retail, and technology.

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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