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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Cost and Benefit Risk Framework for Modern Railway Electrification Options

Document Series
Technical Reports
Author
C. Tyler Dick, Rydell D. Walthall, Michael E. Iden, James R. Blaze
Report Number
DOT/FRA/ORD-25/01
Office
RDI-22
Subject Research, Rolling Stock
Keywords
Freight railway electrification, electric locomotives, battery electric locomotives, overhead catenary system, dual-mode locomotives, economics, BEL, OCS

The Federal Railroad Administration contracted a research team from The University of Texas at Austin in 2023 to develop a framework for evaluating the updated costs and benefits of freight railway electrification considering traditional and modern innovative methods. The team reviewed past and current electrification studies and identified technologies and strategic operation and implementation approaches to improve benefits and reduce cost and risk. The “Cost, Uncertainty, and Risk of Railway Electrification with New Technologies” (CURRENT) model was developed as a risk-based economic analysis framework to aid railroads in evaluating electrification investments, and inform further supplier research and development.


Last updated: Tuesday, January 14, 2025