In July 2025, the European Commission presented its ninth report on developments in the rail market.
While the report gives a high-level overview of the main developments, the full analysis is presented in the accompanying Commission Staff Working Document. Data and figures are also available in an Excel format.
Background
Monitoring developments in the railway markets is essential to inform policy decisions at both EU and national levels. Since 2007, the European Commission has collected data on the evolution of rail markets in the Member States through RMMS (Rail Market Monitoring Scheme) questionnaires. This data collection was initially based on a 'gentlemen’s agreement', which entailed certain limitations, including possible data gaps and methodological inconsistencies. Nevertheless, response rates were relatively high, enabling the Commission to publish RMMS reports on a biennial basis.
The recast of the First Railway Package (Directive 2012/34/EU) eventually established a formal legal basis for RMMS reporting and for the harmonisation of data. Article 15 of the Directive provides that the Commission shall make the necessary arrangements to monitor the technical and economic conditions as well as market developments in rail transport within the Union. This monitoring must include the use of the rail networks and the evolution of key framework conditions such as infrastructure charging, capacity allocation, investment in infrastructure, prices, quality of service, public service contracts, market liberalisation, degree of harmonisation, licensing, employment, and related social aspects. The Directive also allows the Commission to adopt measures to ensure consistency in the reporting obligations of the Member States. Moreover, the Commission is required to report every two years to the European Parliament and the Council on the state of the rail markets.
In line with these provisions, and following extensive consultation with Member States and stakeholders, the Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1100 in July 2015, setting out detailed reporting obligations for the Member States under the rail market monitoring framework. Since 2016, Member States and Norway have submitted data in accordance with the structure and content prescribed by this Regulation.
Earlier RMMS Reports:
- The Eighth RMMS report
- The Seventh RMMS report
- The Sixth RMMS Report:
- The Fifth RMMS Report:
- The Fourth RMMS Report:
- The Third RMMS Report:
- The Second RMMS Report:
- The First RMMS Report