The International Energy Agency (IEA) and UIC are working together to create synergies by gathering information for databases focusing on the railway sector in order to support the IEA’s development framework for energy-related transport trends.
This collaboration has already resulted in significant output:

  • Railway handbooks providing an extensive worldwide statistical overview of energy efficiency and emissions in the railway sector in comparison with other modes;
  • The "Future of Rail" report, which assesses the status of railways worldwide and illustrates what the future might look like in the context of a "high rail scenario";
  • The "Tracking Clean Energy Progress" report, which assesses each transport mode’s progress toward decarbonisation.

The Future of Rail

After five years of collaboration with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to publish the Handbook on Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions, 2018 marked a new collaboration between UIC and the IEA with the aim of producing a new report focusing on future prospects for the sector: “The Future of Rail”.

The report sheds light on the current status of rail transport, and the outlook for the future. It is based on four main pillars:

  • Recent key data in terms of rail activity and related energy use and emissions
  • Analysis of the potential future outlook for rail transport and the associated implications for energy and for the environment
  • Assessment of a scenario with increased shift of travel activity to rail transport in key areas such as urban and high-speed transport and rail freight, as well as the associated implications for energy and the environment
  • Focus on the case of India as the country with the world’s largest railway network

On the strength of cooperation between UIC and the IEA, data provided by UIC members is included in the IEA Mobility Model. This has improved the quality of statistics on energy consumption and carbon emissions from the railways, strengthening the case for investment in rail and cleaner energy and transport policy.

Railway Handbooks


The Railway Handbook is a result of cooperation between the International Energy Agency (IEA) and UIC. The aim is to create synergy by gathering together databases focusing on the railway sector in order to support the IEA’s development framework on energy-related transport trends.

Each edition of the handbook focuses on the main energy consumption and CO2 emission trends in the railway sector worldwide, with each edition placing specific focus on a particular area:

2012: Non-European countries
2013: Energy mix
2014: Infrastructure
2015: Vehicle efficiency
2016: Sustainability targets
2017: Passenger rail services

IEA-UIC Energy and CO2 Railway Handbook 2017

The 2017 edition of the Railway Handbook on Energy Consumption and CO2 emissions is the sixth publication of this series. As in previous editions, this handbook aims to provide the latest insights into the rail sector’s developments of transport (...)

- PDF - 3.6 Mb

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IEA-UIC Energy and CO2 Railway Handbook 2016

- PDF - 5.9 Mb

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IEA-UIC Energy and CO2 Railway Handbook 2015

- PDF - 6.6 Mb

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IEA-UIC Energy and CO2 Railway Handbook 2014

- PDF - 10.4 Mb

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IEA-UIC Energy and CO2 Railway Handbook 2013

- PDF - 18.2 Mb

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IEA-UIC Energy and CO2 Railway Handbook 2012

- PDF - 30.6 Mb

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Monday 13 November 2017