GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Sep 19, 2026
Modal split
Modal split describes how a given transport volume is distributed across the modes road, rail, water, air and pipeline.
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Source: https://www.bav.admin.ch/de/verlagerung-des-gueterverkehrs-durch-die-alpen
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Definition & Explanation
Modal split describes how a given transport volume is distributed across the modes road, rail, water, air and pipeline. Depending on the question it is measured in tonnes, tonne-kilometres, consignments or vehicle trips – and the choice of unit changes the result substantially, which is why two figures for the same traffic can differ widely. In transport policy, modal split serves as a yardstick: Switzerland, for instance, reports the rail share of trans-Alpine freight every six months. For shippers it is a steering instrument, for example when a CO2 target requires a fixed rail share within their own network.
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