Rail passenger traffic between Russia and other countries, including the CIS and Baltic states, had been experiencing a continuous decline from 2010 to 2013; by the end of that period, it had shrunk by 4.9%.
In 2014, international railway passenger traffic declined even further — by 44% on the back of weakening consumer demand due to macroeconomic and political factors, especially the soured relations between Russia and Ukraine. In 2015, passenger traffic fell 33%.
In 2015, Belarus with 32% had a considerable share in the railway market, followed by Ukraine (31%), Kazakhstan (14%), Finland (6%), Uzbekistan (5%), and Moldova (4%). Other countries account for under 8%.
The railway and airline markets broadly demonstrate similar trends due to the overall economic situation. In 2015, air passenger traffic fell 16.4%, while the number of passengers travelling between Russia and other countries beyond the CIS declined 18.1%, and the number of passengers travelling between Russia and the CIS countries decreased 1.1%.
| Countries | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generally | 97 | 102 | 96 | 56 | 67 |
| CIS | 96 | 102 | 96 | 55 | 66 |
| Ukraine | 95 | 101 | 100 | 38 | 57 |
| Baltic States | 95 | 99 | 106 | 79 | 60 |
| Other countries | 118 | 107 | 108 | 79 | 82 |
