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Yesterday, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a study showing freight-rail fuel efficiency increased 22 percent between 1990 and 2006.

Entitled “Comparative Evaluation of Rail and Truck Fuel Efficiency on Competitive Corridors,” the study determined that diesel-electric locomotive improvements, increased double-stack train usage, track and signal upgrades, and longer trains were the primary fuel-efficiency drivers.

Conducted by ICF International, the study found that rail fuel efficiency varies from 156 to 512 ton-miles per gallon while truck fuel efficiency ranges from 68 to 133 ton-miles per gallon.

To download a pdf version of the study, follow this link.