Europe Rail Glazing Market Size, Share, Competitive Landscape and Trend Analysis Report, by Product, Application, Coach Type and Glazing Technology : Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2028

Rail Glazing Market in Europe Statistics - 2028

The Europe rail glazing market was valued at $340.8 million in 2020, and is projected to reach $484.2 million by 2028, registering a CAGR of 4.3% from 2021 to 2028.

Rail glazing refers to the glass or layers of glass utilized for rail windows and windscreens to attain the desired safety and thermal level of train coaches. Glazing solutions for trains are manufactured by considering the rail standards for safety, thermal, and noise level. Glazing units are mainly laminated, tempered, multiple glazing units, tinted, low emissivity, and others as per the requirement of rolling stock. In Europe, rail transportation is one of the crucial modes of transportation from past several years and has widespread rail network along with high technological rolling stock medium. In Europe, railway is an effective mode of cross-border transport as majority of long route trains travel across Europe. Furthermore, majority of rolling stocks operating in Europe are currently electric driven, and this trend is expected to continue till end of the forecast period. The railway industry outlook in Europe, rail standards for glazing, rolling stock manufacturing, and refurbishment projects have direct impact on the Europe rail glazing market growth.

Factors, such as increase in demand for passenger capacity and growing concern for safe, green, & economical public transportation solutions, are expected to drive the growth of the rail glazing market. In addition, refurbishment of existing rolling stock is anticipated to act as a key driver of the market. However, the COVID-19 health crisis restrains the market growth. On the contrary, market participants of the rail glazing market entering into strategic partnership with rail operators to gain competitive advantage and technological innovation at railway transportation front are projected to offer lucrative growth opportunity for the market players.

The Europe rail glazing market is segmented on the basis of product, application, coach type, glazing technology, and country. On the basis of product, the market is bifurcated into windscreens and side windows. Depending on application, the market is categorized into OEM and aftermarket. On the basis of coach type, it is classified into DMU, EMU, high speed trains, metro, and others. By glazing technology, it is segregated into coated, non-coated, and low emissivity/low E glass. Country-wise, the market is analyzed across Germany, the UK, France, Russia, Spain, and the rest of Europe.

The key players operating studied in the Europe rail glazing market are AGC Inc., Dellner Romag Ltd., Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., Ltd., GL Spezialverglasung GmbH, Independent Glass Co. Ltd., Lippert, Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Limited, OSG, Russian Glass Company (RGC), and Saint-Gobain.

Refurbishment of existing rolling stock

Rail transportation is a capital-intensive industry, wherein the cost of new trains is extremely high. In case of capital crunch, instead of new rails, the existing rails are upgraded (refurbished), which involves replacement of obsolete equipment with advanced technical solutions. This not only extends the service life of the vehicle but also increases reliability, functionality, vehicle comfort, and vehicle appearance. Therefore, such refurbishments of existing trains are anticipated to bolster the demand for rail glazing

Growing concern for safe, green, and economical public transportation solution

In the era of green mobility, to address environmental pollution from transportation and climate change issues, policymakers across Europe are focused on advancement in the public transportation solution. 

Moreover, as framed under the European Green Deal, the outcome will be 90% cut in emissions by 2050, delivered by a smart, safe, competitive, affordable, and accessible transport system. Railway transportation is considered as the safest and cost-effective mode of transportation as compared to other public transportation solution, which has surged the demand for railways since the past few years.

Moreover, as per European Union published data, railway accounts for 0.4% of the total greenhouse gas emission from the transportation industry across Europe. Electrification of the railways is the foremost factor for such low contribution of greenhouse gas emissions.

Increase in demand for passenger capacity

The railway industry has witnessed significant growth in passenger ridership as compared to other public transit, owing to its fare frequency and overall commute time. According to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), passenger transport by rail for million passenger-kilometers has witnessed steady growth over the past decade. According to a similar source, Russia registered 152,932 million passenger–kilometers in 1998, which attained 133,589 million passenger-kilometers in 2019. Germany registered 72,666 million passenger–kilometers in 1998, which attained 100,015 million passenger-kilometers in 2019. Moreover, France registered 75,175 million passenger-kilometers in 1998, which reached 112,614 million passenger-kilometers in 2019. Passenger transport by rail for million passenger-kilometers witnessed positive impact from the last two decades and is expected to witness growing demand during the forecast period. Moreover, in Europe, railway has witnessed significant rise in ridership, and is expected to continue in the coming years. Therefore, increase in ridership is expected to create demand for cost-effective and operational-efficient railway transportation solutions. Furthermore, increasing demand for rail passenger across European countries is anticipated to create the demand for rail transportation solutions, which, in turn, will support the growth of the rail glazing market in Europe the coming years.

Entering into strategic partnership with rail operators to gain competitive advantage

Rail glazing solution is mainly utilized by rolling stock manufacturers and rail operators (which are majorly government authorities or government-owned operating organizations). 

In new rolling stock, manufacturing and refurbishment of rolling stock activities create significant demand for glazing solution for passenger comfort & safety. The commencement of such rail glazing solution is expected to be carried out through open contracts and agreements between rolling stock manufacturers or rail operators and developers of rail glazing solution. These contracts mention a set of requirement that must be to be met in a certain timeframe. These long-term contracts and agreements are associated with long-term business opportunities with rail operators. Market participants need to focus on winning the contracts and agreements for new installations to gain a competitive advantage.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread across different regions and countries, causing an enormous impact on the overall community. The COVID-19 pandemic imposes health issues and a significant threat to worldwide trade, economy, and finance. In Europe, majority of the countries has witnessed economical downfall in 2020, owing to declining trade activities and low consumer confidence. The demand for rail glazing solution has decreased in 2020, owing to low demand from railway operators and rolling stock manufacturing due to prolong lockdown imposed by governments of many countries across Europe. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down the production of various products in the rail glazing market. This has restrained the growth of the rail glazing market since the past few months and is expected to continue during 2021. Major demand for rail glazing solution was previously noticed from countries, such as Germany, Russia, and the UK; however, hampered financial performances in 2020 of the end users of rail glazing, such as rolling stock manufacturer and rail operators, decreased the demand for glazing solution, which restrained the market growth

Key Benefits For Stakeholders

• This study presents the analytical depiction of the Europe rail glazing market analysis along with the current trends and future estimations to depict imminent investment pockets.
• The Europe rail glazing market opportunity is determined by understanding profitable trends to gain a stronger foothold.
• The report presents information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities of the market with a detailed impact analysis.
• The current Europe rail glazing market is quantitatively analyzed from 2020 to 2028 to benchmark the financial competency.
• Porter’s five forces analysis illustrates the potency of the buyers and suppliers in the industry.

  Europe Rail Glazing Market Report Highlights