CEE rail is entering its next phase – smarter, more interoperable, more digital (part I)

SCI Verkehr expects both new-build and after-sales business for multiple units to expand through 2030. In Europe, cost pressure is shifting more spending towards maintenance, modernisation and battery-electric fleets.

The analysis uses two March 2026 surveys and mobility data from 2023 to 2026.

The study reviews flagship intercity connections in 13 European countries, offering a rare cross-border view of how speed, pricing models and passenger affordability interact.