What is it about?
This paper analyzes how global rail transport has changed from 1840 to 2020 in terms of energy use, CO₂ emissions, and transport activity. Using a new long-run dataset, it examines trends in energy and carbon intensities and the effects of major technological changes, including the transition from steam to diesel and electric traction.
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Why is it important?
The study provides long-term evidence on how technological change and shifts in energy sources have affected the energy use and emissions of rail transport. This historical perspective helps to understand the drivers of efficiency and emissions changes and informs the assessment of rail’s role in low-carbon transport.
Perspectives
This paper is part of the project World Primary-Final-Useful (WPFU) Energy and Exergy Database from 1800 to 2020 The WPFU project develops a long-run global database of primary, final and useful energy and exergy flows across sectors and technologies. The database reconstructs energy conversion chains over the last two centuries in order to analyse technological transitions, efficiency improvements, and the evolution of energy services. By combining historical energy data with societal exergy analysis, the project enables researchers to study the relationships between energy use, efficiency, economic development, and long-term energy transitions. Related papers: Pinto, R., Brockway, P.E., Domingos, T., Sousa, T, 2026. Long run electricity consumption in computing: exponential growth followed by stabilisation due to efficiency gains. iScience, 114876 Tostes, B., Henriques, S., Heun, M. K., T., Brockway, P. B. and Sousa, T, 2025. Global Transport Emissions 1850–2020: Historical Drivers and Lessons for Transport Decarbonization. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 148, 104998. Tostes, B., Heun, M. K., Henriques, S. T., Brockway, P. B. and Sousa, T, 2025. Insights from the evolution of transport technologies, 1800-2020: Energy use, transitions, and efficiency. Applied Energy, 401, Part A, 126561. Tostes, B., Henriques, S. T., Brockway, P. E., Heun, M. K., Domingos, T., Sousa, T, 2024. On the right track? Energy use, carbon emissions, and intensities of world rail transportation, 1840–2020, Applied Energy, 367, 123344. Pinto, R., Henriques, S.T., Brockway, P.E., Heun, M. K., Sousa, T, 2023. The rise and stall of world electricity efficiency: 1900–2017, results and insights for the renewables transition. Energy, 269, 126775. Steenwyk, P., Heun, M. K., Brockway, P.E., Sousa, T, Henriques, S.T, 2022. The Contributions of muscle and machine work to land and labor productivity in world agriculture since 1800. Biophysical Economics and Sustainability, 7: 2.
Assistant Professor Tânia A. Sousa
Instituto Superior Técnico
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This page is a summary of: On the right track? Energy use, carbon emissions, and intensities of world rail transportation, 1840–2020, Applied Energy, August 2024, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123344.
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