The US freight railways have priced wiring their rails. It is possible to do this, and double stacked containers are not a problem (except for a few bridges that are already borderline for being high enough). Problem is it is only worth it if you have every rail electrified, just a short section in some out of the way rarely used rail that isn't wired is enough that they have to have diesel locomotives everywhere just in case they want to send that train to the one unwired track. And so it doesn't pencil out until diesel gets substantially higher and remains there.
That is according to the railroad. There are others who question the math, which is a valid thing to do, though I don't know who is right. In any case it is possible to wire all US freight, but so far nobody has done it.
Electrified rails don't prevent diesel locomotives rolling down them, so if it was cost effective right now to electrify the most active lines, they'd do it.
That is according to the railroad. There are others who question the math, which is a valid thing to do, though I don't know who is right. In any case it is possible to wire all US freight, but so far nobody has done it.