A study requested by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) concludes that electrification of the rail freight transport network using overhead lines is not feasible. The analysis cites financial, operational and infrastructure challenges and estimates the cost of full electrification at €1 trillion (USD 1.1 trillion). This is equivalent to the cumulative net profit of all six Class I railway companies over 47 years. The study points to reliability risks, such as the vulnerability of the catenary infrastructure to extreme weather conditions and system failures. The estimated energy requirement of 40-50 TWh per year would require extensive grid upgrades. The study also identifies regulatory and safety challenges arising from the lengthy approval process and operational complexity of high-voltage infrastructure.
