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.
Lighting for public facilities and track areas.
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: adjustments from 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 gradually adjusting the light colour temperature of our lighting from 2022 onwards, we are showing ourselves as a role model within the sector and fulfilling our responsibility to the environment.
We are gradually adjusting the light colour temperature of over 100,000 lights in our stations as well as 20,000 lights in our track areas. In future, we will light all above-ground, covered and non-covered rail access areas and track areas using a light colour temperature of 3000 Kelvin (warm white). We will continue to illuminate all underground areas with a light colour temperature of 4000 Kelvin (neutral white).
Please note: We will not be replacing lights simply because they have the wrong light temperature; we will only implement this change in replacement, renewal and refurbishment projects (grandfather clause) and when lights have reached the end of their service life (the service life of a light is about 20 to 40 years).
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.
This change was decided upon in 2022 for railway access areas and in 2023 for the track areas and will be implemented in all facilities that are being newly built, repaired or renovated.
Answers to the most important questions can be found in our FAQ:
