Rail Electrification Council, Part 1 of 2

Is electrification—or re-electrification—a viable means of rail
propulsion, particularly for North American freight? In this first
of a two-part series, Jim Hoecker and Steve Griffith of the Rail
Electrification Council describe the organization’s mission and
objectives, and discuss what’s happening with respect to the
broader electric grid. How will its transition away from fossil
fuels affect the railroads? What are the potential effects of
electrification on the railroads? Why should railroads plan to
electrify? Are there lessons to be learned from rail
electrification in Europe and the Far East? Is there a current
example of a rail road right-of-way being used to support
transmission development? What is the the role of the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in transmission planning and
siting? Are there any policies or funding that can prompt the
railroads to electrify? Hoecker and Griffith discuss these
questions with Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono.