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The question is, how much pollution per tku (tons x kms)? Even if it exhausted nuclear waste, it would be worthwile if it was 1 gram per trillion tku.

Trains are easier to electrify than any other mode of transport, though.

However PM is a fairly localized pollution that doesn't spread far. I don't think diesel trains that drive through the middle of nowhere are that bad. Near population centers it would be preferable to switch to electric locomotives.

There's a handful of hybrid trains in Japan that are electric in urban areas and use a diesel generator in rural parts of the route.

A quick search didn't reveal any running North America but considering diesel locomotives have mostly used diesel generators and electric motors since the 70s, it's not a stretch to think about implementation there.