I am pretty sure that most trains in the USA are diesel-electric not just diesel. So the real question is would converting those trains to pure electric actually reduce the total carbon footprint of rail?
For ideal operation, a train can access electricity from the grid at all times. Currently, that’s not possible on large parts of the US grid.
Electric cars need batteries and as a result you have different dynamics.
I think if you want to think about power innovations for trains things like hydrogen are probably a better way forward.
Why? It’s easier to transport electricity than it’s to transport hydrogen. Electricity-driven motors are also more efficient than hydrogen-fuel cells.
For ideal operation, a train can access electricity from the grid at all times. Currently, that’s not possible on large parts of the US grid.
Electric cars need batteries and as a result you have different dynamics.
Why? It’s easier to transport electricity than it’s to transport hydrogen. Electricity-driven motors are also more efficient than hydrogen-fuel cells.
Separately, the OP wrote a post on how hydrogen is likely not going to be as cheap in 2030 as officially projected: https://www.bhauth.com/blog/chemistry/electricity%20to%20chemicals.html