Is energy consumption in the transport sector hampering both economic growth and the reduction of CO2 emissions? A disaggregated energy consumption analysis

•The paper analysis the interactions between transport sector energy consumption, by source, growth and CO2 emissions.•A panel for 15 OECD countries with annual data from 1995 to 2014 was used.•The short- and long-run effects were analysed by using a ARDL approach with DK-FE estimator.•Economic growth is boosted by the transports fossil fuels consumption, on contrary to renewables.•Investment in rail infrastructure has hampered the fossil fuels use.