Energy is becoming an increasingly important topic in all transport systems. However, when evaluating alternative methods for the optimisation of energy use, it is vital to obtain a thorough understanding of the energy flows within the system. While new systems generally have comprehensive automatic energy metering and monitoring of their components, there is much legacy infrastructure without this capability. This article develops a methodology to determine a breakdown of energy use for the Tyne and Wear Metro, the results of which are compared with other railway systems. This is complemented by an investigation into the energy consumption of stabled rolling stock.