Tonnes carried in the quarter
5.64 million tonnes
Tonne-kilometres
2,344.3 million tonne-kilometres
Average distance per tonne
416 kilometres
Year to date 2026
-7 tonnes
What the data say · Q2 2026
Rail carried 5.64 million tonnes of freight in Spain in the second quarter of 2026, 2.2% less than in the same quarter of 2025. In tonne-kilometres, which measure transport work, the figure was 2,344.3 million tonne-kilometres (down 3.6%), with an average distance of 416 kilometres per tonne.
According to the CNMC, which publishes the market split one quarter later (Q2 2026), intermodal traffic (containers and swap bodies) accounts for 51.1% of tonnes.
Renfe Mercancías ranks first among operators with 1.9 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2026. It is followed by Captrain España (1.34 million) and Medway (799,531 tonnes). Together, the three account for 71.8% of the total.
The rest of the top ten are Other operators (4th, 613,902 tonnes), Continental Rail (5th, 566,773 tonnes), Transervi (6th, 214,759 tonnes) and Logitren Ferroviaria (7th, 194,137 tonnes).
The distribution is highly concentrated: the top five account for 92.7% of the total and 4 operators are enough to reach 80%.
The highest point in the series was the fourth quarter of 2025, at 5.95 M, and the lowest the first quarter of 2026, at 4.92 M.
Operators by tonnes · Q2 2026 (CNMC)
Tonnes by quarter
Full table · 7 operators
| # | Operators | Tonnes in the quarter | Tonne-km | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renfe Mercancías | 1.9 M | 692.5 M | 33.8% |
| 2 | Captrain España | 1.34 M | 485.6 M | 23.8% |
| 3 | Medway | 799,531 | 405.9 M | 14.2% |
| 4 | Other operators | 613,902 | 283 M | 10.9% |
| 5 | Continental Rail | 566,773 | 340.7 M | 10.1% |
| 6 | Transervi | 214,759 | 118.2 M | 3.8% |
| 7 | Logitren Ferroviaria | 194,137 | 100 M | 3.4% |
What this indicator measures
Every quarter the INE publishes the tonnes and tonne-kilometres carried by rail in Spain (Rail Transport Statistics). Tonnes measure how much cargo is loaded onto trains; tonne-kilometres, how much transport work is done (one tonne travelling 500 km counts as 500). The average distance is the ratio of the two. The CNMC adds the split between operators, one quarter later.
Context
Rail carries around 4% of freight tonne-kilometres in Spain, far below the European average. The main flows are containers from the ports (Valencia, Barcelona, Algeciras, Bilbao), steel, automotive and bulk. Renfe Mercancías keeps the largest share, but private operators (Medway, Captrain, Transfesa, Logitren) already account for more than half of the market.
Frequently asked questions
How many tonnes does rail carry in Spain?
5.64 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2026, 2.2% less than in the same quarter of the previous year.
How many tonne-kilometres does rail freight perform?
2,344.3 million tonne-kilometres in the second quarter of 2026, 3.6% less than a year earlier, with an average distance of 416 km per tonne.
When is this data updated?
INE and CNMC publish the data every quarter. Latest data available: Q2 2026.
Source
INE and CNMC. To explore the data in detail, use Ferrocarril (Spanish) or see the original source.