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Railway operators in Europe: what they buy and who supplies them

Buyers declaring "Railway services" as their main activity, across the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The market in numbers

Public supply contracts in Europe: award notices published on TED from 2023-11 to 2026-11, by publication year.

Contracts awarded
8.7K
in 4K award notices
Awarded value
€19B
from 50% of awards with a published value
Suppliers
2.6K
with at least one award
Public buyers
182
in this sector
Contracts awarded by year
Contracts awarded by yearNov–Dec 2023: 248248Nov–Dec 20232024: 2,7542,75420242025: 3,1743,17420252026: 2,5062,5062026
Table view
Contracts awarded by year
Nov–Dec 2023248
20242,754
20253,174
20262,506
Awarded value by year (EUR)
Awarded value by year (EUR)Nov–Dec 2023: €282M€282MNov–Dec 20232024: €3.7B€3.7B20242025: €6.6B€6.6B20252026: €8.9B€8.9B2026
Table view
Awarded value by year (EUR)
Nov–Dec 2023€282M
2024€3.7B
2025€6.6B
2026€8.9B
What they buy: contracts by product category
  1. Railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts2,677
    Railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts: 2,677
  2. Miscellaneous transport equipment and spare parts1,517
    Miscellaneous transport equipment and spare parts: 1,517
  3. Fuels818
    Fuels: 818
  4. Electrical equipment and apparatus277
    Electrical equipment and apparatus: 277
  5. Parts and accessories for vehicles and their engines248
    Parts and accessories for vehicles and their engines: 248
  6. Miscellaneous general and special-purpose machinery196
    Miscellaneous general and special-purpose machinery: 196
  7. Motor vehicles176
    Motor vehicles: 176
  8. Emergency and security equipment140
    Emergency and security equipment: 140
  9. Other3,899
    Other: 3,899
Table view
What they buy: contracts by product category
Railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts2,677
Miscellaneous transport equipment and spare parts1,517
Fuels818
Electrical equipment and apparatus277
Parts and accessories for vehicles and their engines248
Miscellaneous general and special-purpose machinery196
Motor vehicles176
Emergency and security equipment140
Other3,899
Contracts by buyer country
  1. Germany2,796
    641 companies
    Germany: 2,796
  2. Romania1,148
    85 companies
    Romania: 1,148
  3. Austria1,107
    427 companies
    Austria: 1,107
  4. Italy701
    300 companies
    Italy: 701
  5. Poland372
    117 companies
    Poland: 372
  6. France342
    239 companies
    France: 342
  7. Spain340
    95 companies
    Spain: 340
  8. Croatia324
    52 companies
    Croatia: 324
  9. Hungary315
    64 companies
    Hungary: 315
  10. Belgium297
    153 companies
    Belgium: 297
Table view
Contracts by buyer country
Germany2,796
Romania1,148
Austria1,107
Italy701
Poland372
France342
Spain340
Croatia324
Hungary315
Belgium297
Who wins, by company size as declared in the notice
Who wins, by company size as declared in the notice: Large companies 29.9%, Medium-sized 23%, Small 10%, Micro 1.1%, SME (size not stated) 9.5%, Size not stated 26.6%Large companies: 2,596 (29.9%)30%Medium-sized: 1,996 (23%)23%Small: 866 (10%)10%Micro: 92 (1.1%)SME (size not stated): 821 (9.5%)Size not stated: 2,311 (26.6%)27%
  • Large companies
  • Medium-sized
  • Small
  • Micro
  • SME (size not stated)
  • Size not stated
Table view
Who wins, by company size as declared in the notice
Large companies2,596 · 29.9%
Medium-sized1,996 · 23%
Small866 · 10%
Micro92 · 1.1%
SME (size not stated)821 · 9.5%
Size not stated2,311 · 26.6%
Foreign winners: where they are registered
  1. Germany211
    Germany: 211
  2. Austria108
    Austria: 108
  3. Czechia77
    Czechia: 77
  4. Netherlands70
    Netherlands: 70
  5. Switzerland66
    Switzerland: 66
  6. France58
    France: 58
Table view
Foreign winners: where they are registered
Germany211
Austria108
Czechia77
Netherlands70
Switzerland66
France58

Awards to companies registered in the buyer's own country

88.9%

Awards to companies registered in the buyer's own country: 88.9%

964 awards went to companies registered elsewhere.

Share of the 5 biggest winners

11.5%

Share of the 5 biggest winners: 11.5%

Of all awards; a high share means a concentrated market.

Lots with a single bid

42.1%

Lots with a single bid: 42.1%

Among 7.8K awards whose notice states the number of tenders.

How we count: one award per procedure, lot and winning company, from live contract award notices; a joint procurement counts on every buyer's market. Values are the awarded amounts published in the notice (framework ceilings and estimates are never added), converted to euro at the ECB yearly average. Company size is the SME flag of the notice (eForms BT-165). Read the methodology.

Questions

What do railway operators in Europe buy through public tenders?
Mostly railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts (2,677 awards), miscellaneous transport equipment and spare parts (1,517 awards), fuels (818 awards) — 8,682 supply contracts in total since November 2023.
How much is it worth?
The 4,353 awards with a published value add up to €19B; the rest are framework ceilings or undisclosed amounts, which we never add.

All sectors in Europe · Europe by product category

Source: contract award notices on TED — Tenders Electronic Daily (ted.europa.eu), © European Union, published since November 2023; processed by Cresques. Numbers updated 2026-11-13.