>>1221781Loading gauge is technically TBD but realistically speaking everything they use must be AAR compatible because of the shared lengths of track on the Peninsula (and plausibly in LA and Altamont). Since AAR's plates are fat compared to Europe's, this isn't really a problem but it does mean flip-out gap ramps. Only the wires are issue for freight trains carrying double stack containers due to the arcing/shock hazard, but the wires themselves will be 22' (6.7m) tall so tall cars can pass. Likewise CAHSR is expecting double-deck trainsets from the start for this reason, a decision SF forced by dragging their heels on connecting rails into their new train terminal which means trainsets will remain capped at 800' instead of the desired 1600'.
A deeper and more technical overview of this can be seen on Clem Tiller's Caltrain-HSR compatibility blog.
