Three different scenarios for post-COVID-19 pandemic are presented here. The recover scenario assumes governments will prioritize economic recovery by reinforcing established economic activities. The reshape scenario assumes governments will adopt decarbonization policies after the pandemic. The reshape+ scenario includes governments taking advantage of decarbonization opportunities initially created by the pandemic, reinforcing the efforts outlined by the reshape scenario.
Rail freight activity reached some billion tonne-kilometers worldwide in 2015. This volume is projected to grow in 2030 and 2050, reaching over * billion tonne-kilometers by 2050 under the Recover post-COVID-19 scenario. Projections forecast activity to be lower by some billion tonne-kilometers under the Reshape scenario, and it is predicted to drop to around * billion tonne-kilometers using the Reshape+ predictions.
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OECD, & ITF. (May 17, 2021). Projections for global rail freight activity between 2015 and 2050 (billion tonne-kilometers) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from /statistics/1246697/forecast-rail-freight-activity/
OECD, und ITF. "Projections for global rail freight activity between 2015 and 2050 (billion tonne-kilometers)." Chart. May 17, 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 16, 2026. /statistics/1246697/forecast-rail-freight-activity/
OECD, ITF. (2021). Projections for global rail freight activity between 2015 and 2050 (billion tonne-kilometers). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 16, 2026. /statistics/1246697/forecast-rail-freight-activity/
OECD, and ITF. "Projections for Global Rail Freight Activity between 2015 and 2050 (Billion Tonne-kilometers)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 17 May 2021, /statistics/1246697/forecast-rail-freight-activity/
OECD & ITF, Projections for global rail freight activity between 2015 and 2050 (billion tonne-kilometers) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1246697/forecast-rail-freight-activity/ (last visited July 16, 2026)
Projections for global rail freight activity between 2015 and 2050 (billion tonne-kilometers) [Graph], OECD, & ITF, May 17, 2021. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1246697/forecast-rail-freight-activity/
