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While rail freight transport struggled with significant cost increases and profitability problems, intermodal transport achieved outstanding growth of 122 percent in 2024, the Association of Hungarian Logistic Service Centers told MTI on Monday. As a result, Hungary has become a collection and distribution hub in the European logistics network.
The Association explained that according to data from the Hungarian Rail Association (Hungrail), in the last quarter of 2024, the specific costs of rail freight carriers rose by 10.3 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, while specific revenues increased by only 2.2 percent. This difference resulted in a significant decline in profitability, which the sector was unable to compensate for by raising fees.
The main reasons for the cost increase were higher operating costs, car inspection costs and network access fees, as well as exchange rate fluctuations in the case of international transport.
In contrast, intermodal transport achieved spectacular growth in 2024. According to data from the Association of Hungarian Logistic Service Centers,
traffic arriving at and departing from intermodal terminals in Hungary increased by 122% compared to 2023, which is an outstanding performance amid the stagnation in Europe.
This growth enabled Hungary to become a collection and distribution hub in the European intermodal transport network for the first time.
The number of loaded containers increased by 33.8 percent and semi-trailer rail traffic by 21.3 percent, partly due to campaign-related deliveries for factory construction and partly due to new traffic connections to northern Serbia and western Romania. The number of empty containers decreased by 3.4%, reflecting stronger domestic exports and a revival of international traffic to neighboring countries.
The growth was supported by the positive impact of the transfer of semi-trailer road traffic to rail under the Energy Efficiency Commitment Scheme (EKR) and the emergence of new rural terminals, opening up promising opportunities for the future.
The Association pointed out that both rail and intermodal transport were hampered by railway construction works scheduled for 2024, such as the Budapest-Belgrade line, the poor condition of the Gubacsi bridge, and the construction of a third track between Kelenföld (11th district of Budapest) and Ferencváros (9th district). Poorly coordinated track closures caused significant traffic disruptions, train congestion, and terminal isolation, resulting in hectic peak periods at terminals. The Association said that insufficient attention is being paid to the use of temporary structures during railway construction projects, such as bypass tracks, temporary road crossings, platforms or overpasses, signaling and safety equipment, and lane dividers, which could reduce traffic disruptions.
In its statement, the Association indicated that maritime container traffic fell by 13% in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, due to the European economic recession, the decline in domestic consumption, and the conflict in the Gulf of Aden. In the second quarter, maritime traffic caught up, with greater capacity available alongside more orderly traffic, so that after the decline in traffic in the first quarter, the first quarter’s traffic shortfall was also made up in the second quarter.
Zsolt Károly Fülöp, president of Association of Hungarian Logistic Service Centers, said in the statement that
the biggest challenge facing Hungarian rail and intermodal transport is to restore competitiveness and address infrastructure challenges.
They recommend improving the coordination of railway construction works, minimizing track closures, and using temporary structures during renovations, the association’s president added.
Via MTI, Featured photo via Pixabay
