铁路工业工程顾问DavidBurns开发了一套专用于预测全世界铁路牵引动力需求量的计算机模型。据Burns估算，目前全世界内燃机车及电力机车（包括两种机车的备件）年销售额为92亿美元。预测还指出：在1992～2006年期间，内燃机车的年需求量将下跌40％，而电力机车和动车的年需求量将分别上升35％和40％。 David Burns, a railway industry engineering consultant, developed a computer model designed to predict the demand for rail traction power around the world. According to Burns’ estimation, the current worldwide sales of diesel locomotives and electric locomotives (including spare parts for both types of locomotives) are 9.2 billion U.S. dollars. The forecast also pointed out that during the period from 1992 to 2006, the annual demand for diesel locomotives will fall by 40%, while the annual demand for electric locomotives and locomotives will increase by 35% and 40% respectively.