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Urban Passenger Land Transport in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Veton Hoxhaj Veton Hoxhaj Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: October 2024 WZ H49.31DE

Revenue

€32.4bn

2024

€32.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

262k

Businesses

3,749

Wages

€XX.Xbn

Urban Passenger Land Transport in Germany industry analysis

The progression of climate change has recently dominated the public debate, which, in conjunction with society's increasing environmental awareness, has increased the willingness of many political players to invest more money in local public transport in the form of grants and subsidies. Nevertheless, the additional expenditure is largely limited to urban centres. In Germany's rural regions, on the other hand, public transport is being used less and less and subsidies are being cut there. In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic led to a sharp drop in revenue. This is the main reason for the average annual decline in revenue of 0.8% for the period from 2019 to 2024 as a whole, despite the increasing social relevance. In 2024, industry turnover is expected to amount to 32.4 billion euros. This corresponds to growth of 0.1% compared to the previous year. In the current year, public transport has been stimulated by the 49-euro ticket financed by the federal government, which should, among other things, open up new passenger groups.The pandemic also had a negative impact on the industry in 2020, as the fall in the price of crude oil at the time significantly reduced the operating costs of private cars. This made their use more attractive again, which further dampened demand for public transport services, especially as there is no risk of catching the coronavirus in your own car, unlike on public transport. However, the price of crude oil is high this year. Although this increases the operating costs of industry players, it also makes car journeys more expensive, which benefits the industry more overall. < />For the period from 2024 to 2029, IBISWorld expects average annual industry growth of 1.5% and an industry turnover of 35 billion euros in 2029. Unless additional federal funding is granted, supply in the more rural areas of Germany is likely to increasingly approach an indispensable basic service that can no longer be cut. Meanwhile, public transport in urban centres is likely to be continuously expanded as it is given priority in government spending due to climate change and ongoing metropolisation. The expansion of public transport in urban centres is also likely to be made possible by an increasing number of subcontractors, which generally have lower operating costs than municipal transport companies. According to IBISWorld forecasts, the number of employees in the sector will increase significantly by 2029.

Trends and Insights

  • The 49-euro ticket makes using public transport cheaper and easier, which should benefit the industry in the long term. According to Deutsche Bahn, the number of passengers has risen by 25 per cent since the ticket was introduced.
  • Local public transport trains are the highest-selling vehicle category in the local public transport sector. With the introduction of the 49-euro ticket, their use increased significantly.
  • Southern Germany is home to the largest proportion of companies in the sector. As Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are wealthy federal states, they are better able to finance a comprehensive ÖPNV in rural areas than other federal states.
  • The most important substitute for public transport is the car. Consumers prefer to use their cars, especially in rural areas, where the infrastructure and range of services are less well developed than in urban centres.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €32.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The Deutschlandticket has made the use of public transport more accessible for many passengers

  • In May 2023, the German government introduced the 49-euro ticket as the successor to the 9-euro ticket. The 49-euro ticket is valid throughout Germany for buses and trains in local and regional transport. Passengers can purchase the 49-euro ticket in the form of a monthly subscription.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Urban Passenger Land Transport in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Public transport should benefit from the expected improvements to vehicles and infrastructure

  • In the coming years, investments in vehicles and infrastructure are expected to increase.

Biggest companies in the Urban Passenger Land Transport in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
DB Regio AG
10,118.0
Transdev GmbH
1,402.5
Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe AöR
1,295.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Urban Passenger Land Transport in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Local trains, Local buses and Underground and light rail. Local trains is the largest segment of the Urban Passenger Land Transport in Germany.

Trends and Insights

The introduction of the 49-euro ticket had a positive impact on the local train segment

  • The operation of local trains, the highest-revenue segment within local public transport, includes regional express trains, regional trains and suburban trains.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The companies operating in local public transport transport transport passengers by rail and bus on fixed regional routes according to a fixed timetable. Taxi transport and the operation of overland routes and railway stations are not part of the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Local trainsLocal busesUnderground and light railTrams

Companies

DB Regio AGTransdev GmbHBerliner Verkehrsbetriebe AöR

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

MONORAILOVERLAND LINETRAFFIC TRAIN

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 49.31 - Urban Passenger Land Transport in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The 49-euro ticket makes using public transport cheaper and easier, which should benefit the industry in the long term. According to Deutsche Bahn, the number of passengers h...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Local public transport trains are the highest-selling vehicle category in the local public transport sector. With the introduction of the 49-euro ticket, their use increased ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Southern Germany is home to the largest proportion of companies in the sector. As Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are wealthy federal states, they are better able to finance a ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The most important substitute for public transport is the car. Consumers prefer to use their cars, especially in rural areas, where the infrastructure and range of services a...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

DB Regio AG has the largest market share in the local public transport sector. The company wants to become climate-neutral with the help of hydrogen buses.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of DB Regio AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Transdev GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe AöR's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for DB Regio AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Transdev GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe AöR, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Increasing environmental awareness is benefiting the industry. The ÖPNV is considered to be more environmentally friendly than private cars, which is why increasing environme...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The industry is barely profitable. The ÖPNV is heavily financed by state subsidies, only private players are partially able to generate profits.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Urban Passenger Land Transport industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Urban Passenger Land Transport industry in Germany is €32.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Urban Passenger Land Transport in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 3,749 businesses in the Urban Passenger Land Transport industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Urban Passenger Land Transport industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Urban Passenger Land Transport industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Urban Passenger Land Transport industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Urban Passenger Land Transport industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Urban Passenger Land Transport market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Urban Passenger Land Transport market in Germany are DB Regio AG, Transdev GmbH and Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe AöR

What does the Urban Passenger Land Transport in Germany include?

Local trains and Local buses are part of the Urban Passenger Land Transport industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Urban Passenger Land Transport in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is DB Regio AG.

How competitive is the Urban Passenger Land Transport industry in Germany?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Urban Passenger Land Transport industry in Germany.

Related Industries

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Competitors

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.