Trystan Casey
Europe has a highly developed transport network, with road, rail, air, and water transportation all playing important roles. Many cities across Europe have rapid transit systems, commonly known as metros, which are electric railways. The world's oldest underground railway, the London Underground, is part of London's rapid transit system, the largest in Europe. Electric bus adoption in public transport is also growing, with 5,315 battery-electric bus registrations in Europe in the first half of 2025. The Netherlands leads the way with 20% of its buses being electric, while other countries such as the UK, Poland, Finland, Norway, and Luxembourg are also making progress towards electrification.
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What You'll Learn
Electric bus registrations in Europe
The UK led the way in 2022 with 685 e-bus registrations, followed by Germany with 581, and France with 549. These three countries have been at the forefront of the e-bus market in Europe over the last decade. Denmark also made significant progress, registering 381 e-buses in 2022.
In terms of manufacturers, Yutong led the market in 2022 with 479 registrations, a 58% increase from 2021. BYD-Alexander Dennis followed closely with 465 registrations, a 24% increase, and Mercedes secured third place with 405 registrations, a 21% increase. Solaris, a Polish brand, has been a market leader since 2012, solidifying its position with 1,456 units sold in 2022.
Looking ahead, a study by the financial consulting company ING predicts that a third of the 200,000 buses in European public transport will be zero-emission by 2030, with two-thirds of new city bus registrations being zero-emission. This shift towards electric mass transit is expected to result in 108,000 zero-emission buses on Europe's roads by 2030.
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Rail electrification in Europe
The percentage of electrification varies across Europe, with different countries utilising various electrification systems. Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway, and Sweden have used 15 kV AC since 1912, while the Netherlands and France use 1500 V DC. France, Portugal, Lithuania, and most of Southeastern Europe use 25 kV AC, while Spain, Belgium, Wales, England, Poland, Italy, and others use 3 kV DC. The differences in electrification systems and track gauges between countries pose challenges to interoperability and the development of a unified European high-speed rail network.
High-speed rail corridors connecting major European cities heavily rely on electrified lines, which can accommodate trains running at speeds over 300 km/h. These electrified networks are further enhanced by drawing on renewable energy sources, positioning Europe as a global leader in sustainable transport. However, initial infrastructure investments, power supply stability, and system integration remain significant hurdles.
The development of high-speed rail networks in Europe has led to varying levels of success. Countries like Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Austria, Sweden, and France have been ranked in Tier One of the 2017 European Railway Performance Index. Tier Two includes Great Britain, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, the Czech Republic, Norway, Belgium, and Italy. Tier Three consists of Lithuania, Slovenia, Ireland, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Bulgaria.
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Electric bus manufacturing in Europe
The electric bus market in Europe has been growing, with a 26% increase in 2022, reaching 4,152 registered units (up from 3,282 in 2021). The UK leads the way with 685 electric buses, followed by Germany (581) and France (549). The Netherlands is also a leader in this field, with 81% of its city buses being zero emissions.
One of the European leaders in electric bus manufacturing is Solaris Bus & Coach, a Polish company that has supplied vehicles to cities such as Barcelona, Frankfurt, and Milan. Solaris has been the market leader in 2020 and 2021, with a total of 1,462 electric buses and an 11.6% market share. In 2023, the company sold 1,456 units, an 18% growth in revenue. Solaris is now owned by the Spanish group CAF.
Another notable manufacturer is VDL Bus & Coach, a Dutch company that has provided electric buses to Amsterdam and Rotterdam. In 2022, VDL had 344 units registered, and it was the fourth-fastest-growing manufacturer.
Other European electric bus manufacturers include Irizar e-mobility in Spain, Scania in Sweden, and Volvo in Sweden. Additionally, there are manufacturers in non-European countries that supply electric buses to Europe, such as BYD, a Chinese manufacturer with a wide range of electric bus models.
The electric bus market is expected to continue growing, with a projected global reach of 670,000 units by 2027. This growth is driven by increasing demand, expanding OEMs, and government support.
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Rail transport in Europe
Europe has one of the densest rail networks in the world, with an average of 46 km (29 mi) of railway for every 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi) in the EU as of 2013. Nearly all European countries have operational railway lines, with the exceptions of Iceland, Cyprus, Andorra, Malta, and San Marino. Russia, Germany, and France have the continent's longest railway networks.
High-speed rail corridors, such as those connecting major European cities, rely heavily on electrified lines, which can handle trains running at speeds exceeding 300 km/h. These electrified networks are made even more efficient by drawing on renewable energy sources, which are proliferating across Europe. Luxembourg and Belgium are leading the way in rail electrification, positioning Europe as a global leader in sustainable transport.
Switzerland is the European leader in kilometres travelled by rail per inhabitant and year, followed by Austria and France among EU countries. Switzerland was ranked first in the 2017 European Railway Performance Index, followed by Denmark, Finland, Germany, Austria, Sweden, and France.
The European Commission has been proactive in proposing changes to Europe's rail transport market to strengthen rail against other transport modes. The Commission's 2021 Action Plan outlines measures to remove obstacles hindering long-distance and cross-border passenger rail services, making rail a more attractive transport option. The Lisbon-Porto high-speed railway, for example, will shorten travel time between the two cities from approximately 3 hours to 1 hour and 15 minutes once completed.
While rail transport in Europe is primarily focused on passengers, there are also specific railway corridors for freight operations. However, only about 18% of European cargo moves by railway, compared to 38% in the United States in 2000. The relative weakness of rail freight is due to the lower price of truck transport and the high usage of coastal and inland shipping.
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Electric metro systems in Europe
Electric metro systems, also known as rapid transit systems, are a type of high-capacity public transport that is generally built in urban areas. They are usually electric railways that operate on exclusive rights-of-way, which cannot be accessed by pedestrians or other vehicles. Today, almost all metro trains use electric power, supplied either via overhead lines or through a third rail mounted at track level.
The London Underground, which first opened in 1863, had its first electrified underground line, the City and South London Railway, in 1890, making it the world's first deep-level electric metro system. The technology quickly spread to other cities in Europe, including Budapest, which opened in 1896 and was the world's first electric underground railway designed for urban transportation.
The Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways, which opened in 1869 as a steam train railway line, was electrified in 1904 and extended with underground sections in 1948, integrating with the Athens Metro in 2011.
Many new systems have been introduced in Europe since the 1960s, with advancements in technology allowing for new automated services and hybrid solutions, such as tram-trains and premetro. Luxembourg and Belgium are currently leading the way in Europe's rail electrification efforts, positioning the continent as a global leader in sustainable transport.
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Frequently asked questions
The countries with the most electrified railway systems in Europe are Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Sweden.
The Netherlands has the most electric buses in Europe, with 81% of its city buses being zero-emission. Other countries with a high percentage of electric buses include the UK, Norway, Poland, Finland, and Luxembourg.
Solaris Bus & Coach, a Polish-Spanish company, is one of the leaders in electric bus manufacturing in Europe. Other manufacturers include Yutong, Volvo Buses, and CaetanoBus.
Yes, there are rail passes such as Eurail and Interrail that offer international rail travel within Europe for tourists.
Many European cities have rapid transit systems, commonly known as metros. The London Underground is the longest such system in Europe, followed by Moscow, Madrid, and Paris. Other examples include the S-Bahn in Germany, Austria, and German-speaking parts of Switzerland, and the RER in France and Belgium.
