Rail freight traffic in Europe 2012–2019

In 2019, some 3.1 trillion tonne kilometers of cargo were transported on railways in Europe. That year, Europe accounted for roughly one-third of global rail freight traffic.High-speed rail expansion in the BalticsThe 870-kilometer-long high-speed Rail Baltica project will comprise one of the most important stretches of high-speed rail in Europe, with over 94 kilometers located in Latvia: the geographically strategic hub for European and Eurasian railroad traffic. Intended for both freight and passenger rail operations, investments for the project’s commission amount to roughly 5.8 billion euros in total. Rail Baltica has been actively pushed forward instead of delayed during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, with the belief that the project will help promote economic development and recovery in the region amid the global pandemic.The New Silk Road: from China to EuropeAlso named the Belt and Road initiative, China’s New Silk Road concept proposes passage linking Asia, Africa, and Europe by rail, road, and sea. The objective of this project is to further boost trade between Europe and Asia – predominantly China. Several billion U.S. dollars’ worth of investment from China has already been pumped into countries along the New Silk Road, such as Russia, Pakistan, and Italy. Although the project has been met with skepticism, it is thought that the benefits of the New Silk Road will be numerous: lower transport costs, reduced transport durations, and new opportunities for developing markets along the route.

2019年，欧洲铁路运输的货运量达到了约3.1万亿吨公里。当年，欧洲在全球铁路货运总量中占据了大约三分之一的份额。波罗的海地区的高速铁路扩张计划——全长870公里的铁路波罗的海项目，将成为欧洲高速铁路网络中最重要的一段，其中超过94公里位于拉脱维亚，该地区地理位置优越，是欧洲和欧亚铁路交通的战略枢纽。该项目旨在支持货运和客运铁路运营，总投资额约为58亿欧元。在持续的COVID-19疫情危机中，铁路波罗的海项目得以积极推进而非延期，这一举措基于对项目能够助力区域在全球疫情背景下的经济发展和复苏的信心。《新丝绸之路》：从中国至欧洲亦称“一带一路”倡议，中国的“新丝绸之路”概念提出通过铁路、公路和海运连接亚洲、非洲和欧洲的通道。该项目的目标是进一步促进欧洲与亚洲——尤其是中国之间的贸易。中国已经对“新丝绸之路”沿线国家，如俄罗斯、巴基斯坦和意大利等国家投入了数十亿美元的投资。尽管该项目遭到了质疑，但人们普遍认为“新丝绸之路”将带来诸多益处：降低运输成本、缩短运输时间，并为沿线新兴市场的发展提供新的机遇。