World Rail Market Study

The UNIFE World Rail Market Study is the leading reference on the global rail supply market. Produced biennially, it is a trusted source on the current rail market as well as a reliable forecast of the future demand for rail supplies.

World Rail Market Study 2026

Published every two years, the UNIFE World Rail Market Study (WRMS) is the rail industry’s leading source of market intelligence, providing a comprehensive assessment of the current and future development of the global rail supply market.  

Conducted in cooperation with leading market experts and global insight from Bain & Company, the Study allows investors and organisations to identify growth opportunities, monitor investment trends and support vital strategic business decisions. 

Transitioning from a long-standing printed format to a digital modular platform! 

The 2026 edition has been given a significant upgrade, presenting it in an enhanced digital modular format, allowing users to explore dedicated market areas through interactive charts, explanatory analysis and an AI-powered search function with an easy-to-use filtering tool.  

This new digital format complements the established publication by making it easier to access, navigate and analyse the extensive market intelligence contained within the Study, while maintaining the high-quality data and insights which have made the WRMS the only reliable global reference for the rail supply industry. 

This edition of WRMS analyses the development of the global rail supply market across the entire rail value chain, including rolling stock, infrastructure, control-command and signalling (CCS), services and turnkey projects, which can be purchased as different digital modules. The traditional print version of the study also remains available to users. 

Forecast 2026 to 2031 

Despite ongoing geopolitical stability and market access closing to European rail suppliers across the world, the industry rose to meet these challenges. Central to not only passenger mobility, supply chains and military mobility in Europe, the European Rail Supply Industry showed great resolve and potential to grow further into its role as a powerhouse of European manufacturing and services.  

This overall Forecast and broader study examines major established markets, alongside emerging economies, providing detailed regional and country-level insights, market forecasts, and accessibility assessments of the key drivers which shape future investment. 

The Study was conducted by Bain & Company and published by DVV Media Group | Eurailpress. 

 

The 11th edition of the UNIFE World Rail Market Study will be launched at UNIFE’s InnoTrans Stand 230 in Hall 4.2 on 22 September 2026 at 13:30.  

Abstract of the Study

The 2026 edition of the UNIFE World Rail Market Study offers a detailed analysis of the current state and an outlook on the global rail supply market. The study examines 66 focus countries that account for approximately 99% of global rail supply demand and the full rail supply value chain, including infrastructure, rail control (control command and signalling), rolling stock, services, and turnkey management. Data for countries that are not part of the focus group have been extrapolated on the basis of passenger kilometres, tonne kilometres, and transportation units.

 

Click here to read the abstract of the study

For more information, please contact:
Carlos Corts Public Affairs

Carlos Corts

Public Affairs Manager +32 2 642 23 20 Read more