Europa-Park: Inductive charging technology for Panorama Train

Tradition and modernity are not a contradiction

The Panorama Train at Europa-Park in Rust, in the southern Baden region of Germany, is now more than 45 years old; intelligent and sustainable electrification not only makes it environmentally friendly, but also more attractive. The people mover is one of the oldest attractions on the extensive premises, and one of the amusement park’s first amusement rides. For visitors of all ages, this means unadulterated nostalgia. People like to use the historic lazy train for an attractive sightseeing tour through the park. Or they board, without long waiting times, to travel from country to country in complete relaxation over a distance of 1.8 kilometers.

This tradition needs to be respected, even if the age of electric mobility is now making inroads into the nostalgia. The individual solution in the form of a drive and automation package including contactless charging technology and decentralized energy supply was developed at SEW-EURODRIVE and implemented in close cooperation with the Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering departments of the Europa-Park. The conversion of the first locomotive took place while the amusement park was in operation. This means that the remaining diesel or petrol-engined trains continued to run regularly on the same track.

The first amusement ride powered by electricity and without CO₂ emissions – all in black-and-red livery – has been successfully making its rounds since the 2019 winter season. Another train with an electric steam locomotive followed in the 2020 summer season, to the delight of passengers. There are plans to gradually retrofit the remaining trains with our pioneering environmentally friendly drive technology as well.