Public facilities.

From stations and underpasses to track areas and technical buildings – we design accessible, functional and safe public facilities. For our customers and staff.

Public facility lighting.

Well-positioned light sources and optimised lighting at our facilities are key to the well-being of our customers and staff.

When used correctly, artificial light not only has a positive effect on us humans, but also considerably reduces the strain on plants and animals.

Light colour temperature: adjustment in 2022.

LED technology is continuing to develop at a fast pace. At SBB Infrastructure, we are using the advances that have been achieved to make our lighting portfolio continually more sustainable.

By adjusting the light colour temperature of our lighting from 2022 onwards, we are living up to our position as a role model within the sector and fulfilling our responsibility to the environment.

We will be gradually adjusting the light colour temperature of more than 100,000 lights at our stations. From now on, we will light all above-ground, covered and non-covered rail access areas using a light colour temperature of 3000 Kelvin (warm white). All underground areas and track areas will continue to be lit using a light colour temperature of 4000 Kelvin (neutral white).

Please note: we will not replace any lights solely because they no longer have the right light colour temperature; instead, this change will be implemented exclusively in new projects and when lights reach their end of life (the service life of a light is 20 years).

Warm white light (3000 Kelvin) in above-ground areas and natural white light (4000 Kelvin) in underground areas.
Image legend: Warm white light (3000 Kelvin) in above-ground areas and natural white light (4000 Kelvin) in underground areas.

Sustainability.

By adjusting the light colour temperature, we are also making a significant contribution to reducing light pollution. This is particularly noticeable due to less light being emitted into the night sky; a darker night makes it easier to see the stars in the sky.

At the same time, the change will also considerably reduce the strain on plants and animals. In particular, this adjustment will be advantageous to animals that fly, as the artificial, warm white light has a distinctly different light colour temperature to the neutral white light of the stars and the moon. This means our new lights will have a significantly lower impact on the animals’ natural compasses.

The change comes into effect in 2022 and will be implemented at all facilities that are being newly built, undergoing maintenance work or renovation.

Answers to the most important questions can be found in our FAQ:

Go to the light colour temperature FAQ

Further content

PAG – Public Facilities and Buildings

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Further information.