Train operating company Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has announced plans to install 6,000 solar panels at three of its main stations.

It has partnered with climate action group Energy Garden for the project, which will see solar panels installed on train shed roofs at Bedford and Selhurst in South London and Three Bridges in Sussex.

The Bedford scheme is predicted to generate more than 330 MWh of energy a year while the Selhurst and Three Bridges projects are predicted to produce a further 1.7 GWh each year.

The panels are projected to save more than 9,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Agamemnon Otero, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Energy Garden, said: “The partnership between GTR and Energy Garden has changed the UK railway for ever.

“The Streatham Hill Depot solar project demonstrated the power of community-owned solar to passengers and is now funding social and environmental transformation in London.

“With this new franchise agreement of 2.5MW of community-owned solar power, Energy Garden and GTR continue to set an example for a more sustainable railway.”

The organisations said they will use the profits from energy sales to fund community development projects.