One specification I have not seen about current and future California electrification is the nominal height of the contact wire above the top of the rails. Anyone know?

And, how will this affect double-stack intermodal traffic?

I presume there is at least some double-stack intermodal traffic on lines that are slated for electrification.


In case anyone is interested, the largest height of wire above top of rail in Europe is actually in the Channel Tunnel and in the terminals on either side. The shuttle equipment used in the tunnel will not fit within the standard European loading gauge.

Electric motive power that runs through the Chunnel is equipped with special dual-height pantographs. A wayside transponder resets the dampers for the pantographs when the locomotive enters or leaves the high-wire area.

-- Ernest