I think the idea is that you can make a machine that goes on the rails and installs them automatically. So you don't need to haul a bunch of equipment on site, you just drive one special train down the track once.

Same for washing the panels. Could even work a system onto already-running trains.

And the RightOfWay is already maintained to keep thin grasses & trees away that may fall on a line.

Often the line is already built-up for flood prevention.

In some (most? All?) countries, the railway has free reign and doesn’t need to answer to city/municipal/states/provinces for approvals on anything.

A main “downside” is the poor production in winter/mornings/evenings on ground-parallel panels. e.g. France has huge solar capacity, they tend to be heavy electricity exporters in summer and heavy importers in winter. One of their new tariffs offers discounts except for 22 days in winter.

https://www.rte-france.com/en/data-publications/eco2mix/powe...

0 degree panels produce the most when electricity is valued the least.

Output should be measured in currency, not MWh.