Solar Panels on Railway Tracks by India’s Banaras Locomotive Works

For the first time, Indian Railways has installed portable solar panels on railway tracks, marking a historic step towards green and sustainable rail transport.

Banaras Locomotive Works, a public sector undertaking under Indian Railways in Varanasi, commissioned India’s first 70-meter removable solar panel system between railway tracks.

There are 28 solar panels with a total capacity of 15 kilowatts, expected to generate 3.21 lakh units of clean energy annually. The section of railway tracks on which solar panels are installed is used for locomotive trial runs and is enclosed within the workshop.

Founded in 1956 as Diesel Locomotive Works, the company changed its name to Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) in 2020, as it shifted from diesel to electric locomotives for Indian Railways.

The shift of the production line at BLW from diesel to electric locomotives aligns with the Ministry of Railways’ climate commitments. Electric locomotives also help lower fuel costs, reduce dependence on fuel imports, and enhance average train speed and hauling capacity.

Banaras Locomotive Works is emerging as a key export hub for locomotive manufacturing to countries in India’s neighbourhood, including Sri Lanka and Myanmar, as well as to South-East Asia and Africa. 

Not just solar panels on railway tracks, Indian Railways is making every effort to promote solar energy.

As of February 2025, Indian Railways has installed about 209 MW of solar capacity at more than 2,000 railway stations and service buildings across the country.

Solar panels on railway tracks and stations help reduce reliance on the grid, lowering electricity bills. Given that railway stations operate continuously, harnessing solar energy can help reduce operating costs over time.

On June 5th 2021, the railways became one of the first in India to commit to net zero by 2030, and it has since taken a series of stepsto achieve the ambitious goal.

Earlier this year, at one of the summits, the Minister for Railways, Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighted that the railways use 7.7 GW of renewable energy through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). 

India has a railway track network of more than 132,000 km (82,200 miles). While not every route is feasible, even if a small section of this massive network is equipped with solar panels on railway tracks, it will unlock significant green opportunities.