>>1210202>Height is not that big of a problem on the keystone line, where N/S freight runs and the wires are higher. Why would this be a problem on the other lines?Extra cost.
You gotta have enough space to string the catenary while also keeping it far enough away from the double stacks that you don't get arcing.
A lot of tunnels and bridges have enough space for the containers themselves, but not the catenary wire. They'd need to be rebuilt.
Really though, the big problem is that almost all of the freight railroads distrust passenger rail initiatives, ESPECIALLY electrified passenger rail. The consultants we bring in (since, aside from Amtrak, we have no experience running passenger rail ourselves) are almost all from western Europe, and they don't really understand the differing needs of American freight. This leads to... issues.
Here's how high electrified catenary needs to be over doublestack (aka AAR Plate H) to avoid arcing.
