Caltrain's catenary needs to clear freight cars from Santa Clara to San Jose even if they manage to evict freight from the Peninsula proper (allowing lower wire). Freight will never enter the downtown tunnel, other than m/w cars that don't need Plate H.

Are the HSR overcrossings Plate H plus catenary, or just Plate H? If the latter, after stringing the wire, actual clearance over the track will be less. Note also that if HSR vaporizes, and the SJV line that's completed is sold to a freight railroad, it will need clearances for freight after getting rid of the wire, so it's called planning ahead.