I think the main motivations for electrifying a railway are: - flexibility and independence of power source. Switzerland can use hydropower, France can use nuc

I think the main motivations for electrifying a railway are: - flexibility and independence of power source. Switzerland can use hydropower, France can use nuclear power, many places could use coal power and not worry about losing rail transport in an oil shortage. - reduced maintenance costs (no diesel engines; reduced weight of the trains causes less wear on the track) - more power, i.e. faster trains, increasing the capacity of the railway line. Passengers approve, and freight trains can accelerate better meaning it's easier to run them between passenger trains. The US and Canada have less to gain with these than many other countries.