A methodological essay in transport studies: applying the PRISMA method.

Abstract

This article contributes to methodological reflections on transport research. In addition, it discusses the challenge of studying the development of connections between ports and railways in port cities. Taking three countries of the Atlantic Area as references, Brazil, Portugal, and Spain, we apply a systematic analysis of the literature using the PRISMA method, making use of national databases, national library archives, and an internationally relevant database. By 2024, we had built a database with 36 articles and 20 iconographic materials relevant to the topic, identifying five main motivations for connecting the port and the railway: economic development and logistics; railway integration; improved mobility and connectivity; cost reduction; and geographical route. This essay proposes the use of a methodological tool applied to historical research, arguing that its use may assist in understanding the advancement of mobility studies and the urban transformations associated with railway-port connections.