Does the US have electric trains?

Overview of electrification in the U.S. The total electrified route length of these four railroads is 122 miles (196 km). While some freight trains run on parts of the electrified Northeast Corridor and on part of the adjacent Keystone Corridor, these freight trains use diesel locomotives for traction.



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With the exception of a few passenger rail lines that are electrified (AMTRAK's Northeast corridor and Harrisburg, PA line), the remainder of passenger rail and all of freight rail in the country is diesel-powered.

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The Association of American Railroads opposes electrification due to its high capital costs.

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The short answer is that railroad electrification costs much more then dieselization, and in most cases it would not allow significant improvement of operations.

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Most countries have a freight decarbonization goal. These typically include shifting from road to rail and also electrifying rail (IEA, 2019; OECD/ITF, 2021). This model shows that the rail freight industry could expect to see a positive net present value and emissions reductions globally through electrification.

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Some locomotives collect electricity from overhead cables, while others take power from a third “live” rail on the track. It is very expensive to build the lines or rails that carry the electric current, but electric locomotives are cleaner, quieter, faster, and more reliable than steam or diesel engines.

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While the US was a passenger train pioneer in the 19th century, after WWII, railways began to decline. The auto industry was booming, and Americans bought cars and houses in suburbs without rail connections. Highways (as well as aviation) became the focus of infrastructure spending, at the expense of rail.

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American railways were also built on a wider gauge (the distance between the rails), which allows for larger and heavier trains. As a result, American freight railways are much more efficient than their European counterparts, carrying almost three times as much cargo per mile of track.

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Electric locomotives benefit from the high efficiency of electric motors, often above 90% (not including the inefficiency of generating the electricity).

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Japan: Japan is often praised for having one of the world's most efficient and punctual railway systems. The country is known for its high-speed Shinkansen (bullet trains) and extensive network of commuter and regional trains. Japan's commitment to safety, cleanliness, and customer service is also noteworthy.

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The life expectancy of diesel-electric and electric locomotives is expected to be similar—about 25 years. Both types of motive power are subject to technological obsolescence.

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The number of route miles electrified in these years was answered to a written question in parliament. In November 2019 the annual statistics for route miles electrified was published by the DfT and shows that 38% of the UK network is now electrified.

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Railroads are the most fuel-efficient way to move freight over land, moving one ton of freight nearly 500 miles per gallon of fuel, on average.

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Unlike countries like United States, where mainline freight rail electrification is nonexistent, a large percentage of European freight trains are electrified.

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Property rights. One of the most expensive parts of building new rail lines these days is securing land along a relatively straight path (you can't run trains at high speeds along too sharp a curve). The U.S. has strong property rights which makes securing land exceedingly expensive.

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