pedeSOLAR creates bright, intuitive guidance for pedestrians at level crossings
Facts
- Location: Kaltenkirchen, Germany
- Period: May 2021
- Client: AKN Eisenbahn GmbH
- Products: pede, pedeSOLAR
- Length/quantity: 2 level crossings, each with a length of 4.5 m
- Conditions: UIC 60, B70W
Advantages
- Self-illuminating markings with a maximum visibility of approx. 900 m (depending on the course of the road)
- Battery-operated, autonomous and maintenance-free LED units powered by sunlight
- Performance when fully charged: up to 240 hours without further exposure to sunlight (charging time approx. 3 hours)
- For a temperature range from -20 °C to 85 °C
Project description
At Kaltenkirchen Süd station, where a double-track level crossing lies in close proximity to a school, ensuring maximum safety for pedestrians—especially schoolchildren—is of paramount importance. In this sensitive area, there was a clear need to significantly improve guidance and, consequently, safety for both cyclists and pedestrians during low-light and nighttime conditions.
For this purpose, AKN Eisenbahn GmbH selected the robust and proven pede system for level crossings, specifically designed to address pedestrian needs. The key innovation of the project, however, was the addition of the pedeSOLAR system.
At the Kaltenkirchen Süd crossing, solar-powered lighting elements were installed on two 4.5-metre-long pede level crossings. This solution offers several advantages:
- Enhanced guidance: The integrated lighting elements provide clear visual cues, improving the visibility of the crossing at dusk and at night.
- Sustainability: As a self-sufficient solar system, pedeSOLAR requires no external power supply, lowering installation costs and improving the operator’s sustainability profile.
Following the positive initial results, another pede level crossing within the AKN network was immediately equipped with pedeSOLAR to further assess the system’s advantages.
