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Special Report: Electrifying Freight Rail
The push for high-speed rail, new power lines could transform freight railroads
* BNSF Eyes Route to Electric Trains
* Listen to an interview with Rose
* Challenges Loom Over Electric Ideas
* Electric Freight Rail Calls for New-Era Engines
* FERC Talks Up Rail
* Obama Aide Saw HSR-Freight Links
* Former FRA Chief Sees Rail Overhaul
* Midwest Plan Offers Rail Power Potential
* Video: Carl Dombek on Rail Electrification
Interest is growing in using electricity to power freight railroads, a development that would have enormous implications for the economics and environmental impact of rail operations.
What was once just a futuristic vision of electrified trains replacing diesel locomotives with their high fuel costs and exhaust issues is getting more serious attention (Go to BNSF Eyes Route To Electric Trains and listen to an audio clip from an interview with BNSF Railway Chairman, President and CEO Matthew K. Rose).
It could take years to build the infrastructure and new types of train equipment to implement the strategy, and tens of billions of dollars (Go to Challenges Loom Over Electric Ideas and Electric Freight Rail Calls for New-Era Engines).
But a number of officials inside and out of the freight rail industry are discussing it now, and wondering if the time has arrived to start moving the country in this direction (Go to FERC Talks Up Rail).
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Heard and Noted
Hon. Chuck Strahl, Canada Minister of Transport, confirmed to speak at 5th annual JoC Canada Maritime Conference on Sept. 14-15 in Montreal
Sep 8, 2010 3:09PM GMT
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In a perfect world, we not only would electrify the entire U.S. rail network, but increase track gauge to 6 feet from the current 4'8" inches -- each of which boosts productivity of assets and reduces operating costs.
In the real world, where capital is scarce and demand insatiable, change is incremental and generally slow to occur.
Such projects will compete in the board-room marketplace for funding based upon perceived return on investment. Eonomics and finance will determine the decision.
Frank N. Wilner