The competition, which was launched in 2012, requires participants to design and manufacture a miniature, 10 1/4” gauge, railway locomotive in accordance with a number of precise rules.
The students’ locomotives are then tested at the competition weekend, on 28 June – 1 July, in a series of track based and presentation challenges.
These challenges include a design report and business presentation, as well as track-based challenges on the locomotive’s traction, ride comfort, noise, maintainability and ability to store energy.
Last year’s winners, SNC Lavalin and Transit, will be defending their title.
Says Railway Challenge chairman Professor Simon Iwnicki: “The Institution’s Railway Challenge is not simply a locomotive building contest, but a competition that centres on emerging technology and is specifically focused on the application of innovation to key issues such as efficiency and energy recovery.
“The railway industry is entering a period of rapid changes due to the global demand for producing efficient high speed transport systems, taking freight on to rail and off road, and driving down carbon emissions from transport. These challenges must be met by the next generation of railway engineers and the Railway Challenge is providing teams of young engineers with experience of designing and manufacturing a prototype vehicle to meet these demands.”
Confirmed teams taking part in the Railway Challenge 2018 are:
- University of Warwick
- University of Sheffield
- FH Aachen and Reuschling University, Germany
- Siemens and University of Southampton
- SNC-Lavalin Rail and Transit
- University of Huddersfield
- Ricardo Rail
- University of Birmingham
- TFL
- Bombardier Transportation and The University of Derby
- Helwan University from Egypt
