railroad electrification

Freight rail electrification can exist in North America — the question is where

FreightWaves recently chatted with Daniel Simounet, vice president of the transportation sector for Hitachi ABB Power Grids, about whether it’s possible to electrify the freight rail system in North America.

Simounet is responsible for working with North American customers that might need power grid devices, such as transformers and switch gears, as well as tools that can connect companies to the power grid.

Although much of the activity Simounet sees regarding rail electrification has been on...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-rail-electrification-can-exist-in-north-america-the-question-is-where

Is electrifying the freight rail network cost prohibitive?

A photograph of a train on a track. The train is connected to catenaries.

While electrification might suit such transportation modes as trucking, many say rail might not be a good fit.

Much of the effort to decarbonize the U.S. freight rail industry has focused on the use of battery-electric or hydrogen-powered locomotives. The industry is also looking into increasing network capacity via technology as a way to improve rail service and encourage more volumes to rail from truck.

But should the electrification of the freight rail network be viewed as another way the...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/is-electrifying-the-freight-rail-network-cost-prohibitive

Commentary: No, railroad freight electrification is not dead

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.

Photo from California’s Caltrain public file

Alternate research suggests that it is way too early to walk away from the electrification discussion.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) recently published a policy paper arguing that partial or complete major U.S. railroad electrification was a bad idea. Not necessary. No financial return.

That might also...