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Battery-electric trains (not hybrids) are certainly a promising emerging technology, however. Countries like the UK and Germany are looking to replace diesel trains with battery-electric on non-electrified branch lines:

https://www.railwaygazette.com/battery-traction-agreement-si...

Battery-electric trams are also a thing:

https://www.railtech.com/infrastructure/2019/12/12/first-uk-...

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Yes similar to planes its an energy density and cost issue for the batteries although weight is less of a concern. I would imagine you could do some interesting things too like have the train run through an electrified section to charge itself and then run through a non-electrified section on batteries.

That's basically the plan for the UK network going forward, electrification has been ludicrously expensive so most of our rail network (in miles) is serviced by diesel trains, even some of the major lines have had full electrification indefinitely delayed.

It also allows un-electrified or inactive railway lines to be incorporated into urban metros much more easily and we're doing that as well.

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