Passagertrafik

Passagertrafik refers to the movement of people using transport systems and is a key indicator in transport planning. It covers all passenger services across modes, and is distinct from freight traffic. The concept is used to measure demand, capacity, and service quality. Common measures include the number of passengers (ridership), the distance traveled by passengers (passenger-kilometers), and the number of trips.

Passagertrafik is realized through rail, road (buses and coaches), air, and maritime services, as well as urban and regional transit. In rail and urban transit the metric often used is annual or daily ridership, while aviation tracks revenue passenger kilometres and load factors. Maritime services track passenger volumes and travel distances; road transport uses passenger counts and, for long-distance services, passenger-kilometers as well.

Data on passagertrafik are produced by national statistics offices, transport ministries or agencies, and international organizations. They support planning, infrastructure investment, scheduling, fare policies, and environmental assessments. They also help evaluate accessibility and social equity.

Trends in passagertrafik reflect broader mobility patterns: urbanization, congestion, and environmental concerns push some trips from private cars to public transport or active modes; technology and network effects can raise service levels and attract higher ridership; and policy measures such as congestion pricing or transit-oriented development influence passenger traffic.