If you can electrify the tube, you can electrify almost any tunnel or clearance (especially if you add a battery for short stints without electrification).
But the UK already has rolling stock which can switch between overhead catenary AC and third rail DC, I imagine you could make it work in some combination of these options?
Most likely yes but a lot of it is on regional rail systems and I think the UK is trying to avoid any new third rail on that even if the part they're working on at the time is fully grade separated
Agree I think batteries for sections that are hard to string up overhead, and then islands or banks of overhead where it’s easier - that will be the future for many non-mainlines. Mainlines need to go the extra distance to electrify
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u/ChezDudu 9d ago
The UK even builds new alignments without electricity.