While rising incomes in developing economies create stronger transportation demand — where the need for flexibility tends to favor car and air travel — increased railway use would save energy, help the environment and also be safer, experts say. The International Energy Agency said Wednesday that any significant shift of passengers and goods to rail transport would reduce air pollution and oil demand. “While the rail sector carries 8 percent of the world’s passengers and 7 percent of global freight transport, it represents only 2% of total transport energy demand, highlighting its efficiency,” the IEA said in a press release . In addition, rail is the only mode of transport that is widely electrified today, the report added. The trend toward electrification, excluding North America, which will continue […]