French state railway SNCF is working with Swiss start-up Sun-Ways on a pilot project involving the installation of movable photovoltaic modules between the rails. The aim is to tap into additional solar power generation on railway land while assessing the impact on operations and maintenance. The test has been running since 24th April 2025 in Buttes in the Canton of Neuchatel in Switzerland and is scheduled to continue until April 2028. The project is investigating installation processes, glare effects, track inspections, effects on maintenance procedures, electricity yield, and pollution. A total of 48 modules with a power of 380 W have been installed on 100 m of track, with an expected yield of around 16,000 kWh per year. During the test phase, around 30 trains transport goods there daily at speeds of up to 90 km/h.
