Switzerland Leads the Solar Railway Revolution as Countries Worldwide Turn Railway Infrastructure Into Renewable Energy

Written By: Sarannya Acharya

Sarannya Acharya

Sarannya Acharya is a content writer with a strong academic and professional background in media and communication. She holds an M.Sc in Media Science and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Swami Vivekananda University, Barrackpore, with a specialization in Advertising. With over three years of experience in content writing, she brings a blend of research-driven insight and creative storytelling to her work. Alongside her professional role, she is actively engaged in academics, contributing to the field through teaching and scholarly involvement. Her expertise lies in crafting well-structured, engaging, and informative content, supported by a solid foundation in media theory and practical industry knowledge.

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August 31, 2026 22:32 GMT+5:30

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Switzerland is leading the solar railway revolution, while countries worldwide are turning railway infrastructure into renewable energy. Moreover, this Switzerland solar railway revolution is creating a fresh sustainability story for travellers exploring Europe by train. Railway infrastructure, renewable energy and sustainable travel are increasingly coming together across global transport networks. As a result, Switzerland is attracting attention for testing solar technology directly alongside railway operations. For tourists, the development adds another dimension to the country’s famous rail journeys, scenic routes and Alpine experiences. Travel And Tour World urges readers to explore the entire story and discover how solar railways could reshape future sustainable travel.

Solar Panels Between Active Railway Tracks

Switzerland is testing an unusual renewable-energy concept that places removable solar panels directly between active railway tracks. The pilot operates in Buttes, in the canton of Neuchâtel, and began on 24 April 2025.

The installation covers 100 metres of railway and contains 48 photovoltaic panels, each rated at 380 watts. Together, they provide approximately 18 kWp of installed capacity and are estimated to generate around 16,000 kWh of electricity annually.

The system was developed by Swiss company Sun-Ways. Its removable design allows panels to be installed or taken away mechanically when railway inspection and maintenance work is required.

Why This Matters to Travellers

For international visitors, the experiment adds an important sustainability dimension to Switzerland’s famous railway tourism.

Switzerland Tourism identifies public transport as one of the country’s most sustainable travel options. Visitors can use trains, buses and boats to explore cities, lakes and Alpine destinations while reducing dependence on private vehicles.

The solar railway concept therefore connects two important Swiss strengths: efficient public transportation and renewable-energy innovation.

Travellers can already experience scenic rail journeys across Switzerland. Official tourism information highlights routes such as the Glacier Express and the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, where the journey itself forms an important part of the holiday experience.

France Is Studying the Swiss Experiment

The project is also attracting international railway interest. France’s SNCF Group has partnered with Sun-Ways to study the technology.

SNCF is examining several issues, including photovoltaic installation, glare, track inspections, maintenance effects, electricity production and dirt accumulation.

The three-year pilot is scheduled to continue until April 2028, providing additional operational data before wider deployment can be considered.

A Potential Future for Sustainable Rail Journeys

Switzerland’s railway network is already central to its tourism experience. This experiment could eventually add renewable-energy production to that role.

However, the technology remains under evaluation. Travellers should therefore view Buttes as a research project rather than an established tourist attraction.

For visitors planning a greener Swiss holiday, the immediate opportunity is simpler: use the country’s extensive public transport network, choose scenic rail journeys and explore multiple destinations without relying heavily on cars.

The railway solar experiment offers an intriguing glimpse of what sustainable travel infrastructure could look like in the future.

Switzerland Leads the Track-Integrated Solar Railway Experiment

Switzerland is currently at the centre of a new railway-energy experiment in Buttes, Neuchâtel. Swiss start-up Sun-Ways installed 48 removable photovoltaic panels across a 100-metre section of an operating railway line in April 2025.

The system has an installed capacity of approximately 18 kWp. Expected annual production is around 16,000 kWh. The panels are positioned between the rails, allowing normal train operations above them.

The installation is designed to be mechanically removed when railway maintenance is required. Sun-Ways estimates that suitable sections across Switzerland could eventually generate up to 1 TWh of electricity annually, equivalent to roughly 2% of Swiss electricity consumption.

The project is particularly relevant to railway travellers because Switzerland already has a strong tourism dependence on rail transport. BLS recorded 47.8 million train passengers in 2021, rising to 58.4 million in 2022, 64.7 million in 2023, 67.3 million in 2024 and 69.3 million in 2025. BLS says leisure and tourism traffic contributed strongly to recent growth.

Switzerland’s Five-Year Passenger Trend

BLS reported particularly strong growth on tourist-oriented lines in the Bernese Oberland, Valais and Simplon regions. Demand on those routes increased by more than 4.5% in 2025.

France Is Studying the Swiss Technology

France has not yet deployed the same full-scale operational system between rails, but its national railway group SNCF is actively examining rail-based solar generation.

SNCF has developed SOLVEIG, a reversible solar-panel prototype at its Achères technical centre in Yvelines. The project explores how unused railway infrastructure can become renewable-energy assets.

SNCF has also joined the Swiss Sun-Ways experiment to examine installation, maintenance, electricity generation, dirt accumulation and potential operational issues.

For travellers, this could eventually matter across European rail corridors if the technology proves reliable and economically viable.

India Has One of the World’s Largest Railway Solar Programmes

India’s approach differs from Switzerland because its major solar programme focuses on railway stations, service buildings, railway land and traction-related installations rather than photovoltaic panels placed directly between active rails.

By November 2025, Indian Railways had commissioned 898 MW of solar capacity. Around 629 MW, or approximately 70%, was being used for railway traction, while 269 MW served non-traction requirements. Solar installations were present at 2,626 railway stations.

By June 2026, the Ministry of Railways reported approximately 1,161 MW of commissioned solar capacity, alongside about 103 MW of wind capacity.

Indian Railways has also moved towards solar generation directly connected to railway traction systems. Earlier pilot projects included a 1.7 MW solar installation at Bina, Madhya Pradesh, designed to feed railway traction power.

India’s Solar Railway Statistics

Indian Railways also reported that rail transport produces about 89% less CO₂ than road transport, reinforcing the wider environmental importance of railway-based mobility.

South Korea Is Expanding Railway Solar Infrastructure

South Korea provides another major example, although its projects generally use railway property rather than putting photovoltaic modules directly between running rails.

In 2021, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced a 25 MW Solar Railroad Green New Deal programme with Korea Railroad Corporation and Seoul.

The planned capacity included 19.8 MW across railway yards and station parking areas and 5.2 MW at railway stations. Expected annual production was approximately 32 million kWh, enough for around 10,000 households. The government also set an ambition to expand railway-related solar generation towards 456 MW by 2030.

In August 2026, Korail announced another railway-infrastructure solar programme with a planned annual output of 116.9 GWh. The programme includes unused railway-depot areas, public car parks, KTX facilities and station locations. Korail estimates the electricity could meet annual consumption for about 20,000 four-person households.

United Kingdom Is Investigating Track Solar Potential

The United Kingdom is at an earlier evaluation stage for solar panels installed between railway tracks.

In a July 2025 parliamentary response, the UK Government said rail-track solar could be feasible but acknowledged obstacles that could restrict deployment in some locations. It stated that discussions would continue with Network Rail.

Network Rail is already increasing renewable electricity procurement. In 2025, it announced a 14-year agreement with EDF Renewables for 64 GWh of clean electricity annually. The supply is expected to cover approximately 15% of the electricity required for Network Rail’s directly managed stations, offices and depots.

Countries With Documented Railway Solar Activity

What the Numbers Mean for Railway Travellers

There is currently no authoritative monthly visitor dataset for solar railway sites. But passenger figures show why the energy question matters for tourism.

Switzerland’s BLS train passenger numbers increased from 47.8 million in 2021 to 69.3 million in 2025. That represents an increase of about 21.5 million passengers, or roughly 45%.

The strongest growth occurred as leisure travel recovered and expanded after the pandemic period. In 2025, BLS passenger-kilometres reached almost 1.30 billion.

For international tourists, solar railway technology therefore represents more than an energy experiment. It could eventually allow heavily used transport corridors to generate some of their own electricity without requiring additional agricultural land.

However, the Swiss model remains experimental. Maintenance access, weather exposure, dirt, reflections, electrical connections and long-term durability must continue to be evaluated.

For travellers planning sustainable holidays, the immediate lesson is straightforward. Switzerland, India, South Korea and other railway markets are increasingly connecting clean energy with rail infrastructure. The future of sustainable tourism may therefore involve not only greener trains, but railway infrastructure that helps generate the electricity those journeys require.

Conclusion

Switzerland is placing sustainable travel at the centre of its railway innovation with its solar railway experiment. Meanwhile, countries such as India, France, South Korea and the United Kingdom are exploring different ways to combine railway infrastructure with renewable energy. These developments could eventually make rail networks cleaner and more energy-efficient. For travellers, the transformation adds a new environmental dimension to scenic journeys across Switzerland and beyond. As solar technology develops, railway networks may become more than transport corridors. They could also become important renewable-energy assets, supporting greener tourism while helping destinations protect the landscapes that attract visitors from around the world.