Railway maintenance: a mirror of infrastructure priorities across countries

The analysis of spending on railway infrastructure maintenance over the 2019–2023 period showshow the stability, efficiency, and safety of rail transport are closely linked to the continuity ofinvestments—often less visible than those for new construction, but essential to ensure day-to-dayoperations and the resilience of the system. A reading of the data highlights a certain regularity incountries with advanced railway infrastructures, but also strong disparities between OECD economiesand those outside the organization. The latter often display discontinuities, very low values, and astronger dependence on domestic political and financial dynamics.