The world’s first solar powered train
The Byron Bay Railroad Company runs the world’s first 100% solar-powered train. It wouldn’t work everywhere – but in the bright sunshine of Australia, it might just be the right tool for the job.
More about the railroad: https://byronbaytrain.com.au/
Edited by Michelle Martin (@mrsmmartin)
I’m at http://tomscott.com
on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tomscott
on Facebook at http://facebook.com/tomscott
and on Instagram as tomscottgo
@TomScottGo
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
It was incredibly difficult to film in sunlight this bright, with shadows this dark. It mostly worked out, though!
@tedf1471
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Two mile track, the bulk of the solar panels are at the stations either end (Panels on train largely for decoration…)
@ottersmeep25
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
And it is proven once more that trains are more efficient
@reinux
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
This actually just shows how wasteful even EVs are.
@pr5991
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
2:48 net carbon POSITIVE? Or is it a mistake? should it not to be net carbon Negative?
@srijandas2158
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
❤❤❤❤😂😎🤪🎁🥰
@CamonaTempest
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Great job on this video! Thank you for the inspiration! ✨
@L4mpzZt4rzz
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Byron Bay always be wilding
@arthisree9077
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Can I know how much does it require to give electric power to the train when it stops in a station?
@Pointlightvfx
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
4 years after Tom made me aware of this train's existence, I finally got to visit!
@thomasciarlariello
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
dystopian
@SerjBassist
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
I don't know if this caught on somewhere else, but there's a tourist solar powered train that will start service in Jujuy, Argentina, in a couple months (march 2024). It consists of brand new trains with panoramic windows and will cover a distance of 35km.
I have sources but they are in Spanish, if anyone is interested.
@annedewinnaar3285
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Awesome project! But don't worry about the carbon issue – that's a total hoax. We NEED carbon dioxide in the atmosphere – it is the gas of life! It is what our planet needs in order to produce vegetables, fruit – all plants.
@StevePhillips
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Fabulous video cool idea
@marcopohl4875
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Net-carbon-positive? So they make CO2?
@darthobi-wan8014
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
More Australian stuff please! There is LOTS to explore about Australia's railway, whether it be in Melbourne, NSW, or all across the country.
@stickynorth
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
This is so cool!
@bearo8
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
That's amazing!
@TheKillerman3333
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
there isn't anything stopping you from having a solar powered train system. the tracks can be used to house solar panels between the rails.
@jorgesabater8640
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
I wish the Incofer engineers in Costa Rica would see this video. The system could be used for urban trains in the capital San José.
@DonaldHarrington-tr4qw
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Ironically the guy who tried shooting and dumping me by the railroad tracks was named scott
@Adonis-qb5ze
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
I am no expert, but why not put some electric wires on top of the train so that it doesn't rely on the sun or the battery (the production of battery is not very good for the people nor the environment)
If you want to go green just make the electric source green
@mdepenno
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
what i wonder what is the top speed of this train?
@alexanderbaumann7902
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
"We haven't missed a service" something the Deutsche Bahn will never say
@topilinkala1594
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
The problem of solar power is not how much sunlight you get but what does the authority of looks of the city say. There was study done in Finland that putting solrapanels on south facing roofs of the apartment houses in town would be able to produce enough energy to melt the snow and still enough left over to charge cellphones in each apartment. But the environment agency said: NO WAY! It would ruin the looks of Helsinki skyline.
@drill_fiend1097
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
This has to be one of the luckiest location for solar power.
@varglbargl
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
this is an abysmal idea. put up a god damn catenary cable.
@mews56
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Wouldn’t that make it the perfect solution for budget high capacity double decker light rail? For tighter roads & wires or cables
@maxschon7709
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
They could enlarge the track easily and make it a cargo carrying too. It would as easy to connect it to the Airfield.
@c4_ro
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
a neat idea but why tho , normal electric trains exist , why not use a regular one and just put the solar panels on every station , no more need for batteries and you can use the grid at night or in bad weather
@MrGigi-dz9cv
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
One trip per day, siiting most of the day, in the sun.
@technics6215
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Whaat? Really?
@aaronhpa
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
OMG, why is a guy that was a company owner with so many years still working? What is wrong with australia?
@scottmac
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
“carbon positive” is one of the most annoying PR misnomers out there. It’s carbon negative!!!
@kaischmelzle547
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Are These flexible solar panels?
@Spacey1800
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Mynameisbyronbruh
@junzytech5450
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
They trained me up
@joelmanaussie
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Oh, thanks for letting us know about this. It's only a short drive South. I'll go and check it out in the next few weeks.
@osmanpasha_diy
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
So, is it technically a battery-powered train with solar panels charging the battery for longer periods? Will it run if the battery is removed (in terms of power balance)?
By the way, all Dutch electric trains run 100% on wind power since 2017, it's just the wind turbine is not mounted on the roof of the trains.
@paulhunt3981
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Yes but it's only 3 kilometers
@AA-eq2zq
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
It's solar, low sound pollution, public transportation, carbon positive, powers 17 houses, uses existing things instead of making new ones, and it's even driven as green as possible. A joy to see!
@dailyrider2975
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
1 ton/person Really? I think 400lb/person would be doable. A 24 ton train. Still seems like a lot.
@mikeb.7068
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
The track is three kilometers long. rofl.
@Jlewismedia
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
It'd be mad to meet Tom and not know who he is then listen to lifetimes worth of random stories
@snipsnap9995
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
An honest to god solar punk train. I love it!
@Nehmo
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
6.5 kilowatts to run a 2-car train? The Nissan LEAF has an 80kW motor.
@justdestruction4675
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 pm
It actually looks good they did not ruin it I like it👍
Comments are closed.