Cookie Notice

We use cookies to make parts of our website work, and to improve your visitor experience.
If you only allow necessary cookies, some features of our website may not work.



 

Railway Challenge

latest news, results, information and more.

 

The Railway Challenge, organised by our Railway Division, provides a brilliant opportunity for aspiring teams to compete in yet another challenging industry-specific competition, showcasing their skills, expertise, knowledge, and business acumen.

Each annual Challenge cycle kicks-off in October, ending with a final event in late June/early July of the following year.

The Challenge, now in its thirteenth successive year, continues to bring together teams of university students, as well as apprentices and graduates working in industry across the world to test their business knowledge, design ability and technical skills in a live test environment.

The 2024 Railway Challenge will see some notable changes which we hope will ensure it remains relevant, competitive and accessible to all prospective entrants. In addition, the developments reflect some of the challenges of contemporary railways. Key changes for 2024 include:

  • The addition of assessment of locomotive aesthetic as part of the revised Locomotive Aesthetic and Technical Poster Challenge
  • The addition of four optional challenges, of which teams will compete and score in one. The choice is from two mechanically biased challenges and two electronic/control biased challenges.
  • Removal of the noise challenge and the refuelling challenge to compensate for the addition of the above.
  • The option for teams to compete with ride-on locomotives for the driver, provided they complete an acceptable hazard analysis.

Advance notice for 2025

The organisers also propose further developments for the 2025 for which advance notice is given. Teams should note that these are provisional at this stage but will be confirmed nearer the time. The 2025 event is proposed to include:

  • A new energy efficiency challenge with teams required to provide an interface to an electrical power source which the organisers will supply also incorporating monitoring of energy used.
  • A mandatory requirement for ride-on locomotives for the driver (complete with acceptable hazard analysis).
  • A requirement to compete with an additional load vehicle (increasing to three load vehicles in total).
  • A requirement for locomotives to be fully bi-directional for both operation and coupling.

Get in touch

Have a question? Would like to get involved?

Join the IMechE conversation

Railway Challenge Facebook Railway Challenge Twitter  Flickr

  • About Railway Challenge

    About Railway Challenge

    • Inspiring and developing the next generation of professional engineers
    • Challenge News
  • Why participate?

    Why participate?

    • Benefits for teams
    • Integration with university curriculum or graduate scheme
  • Team resources

    Team resources

    • Team registration
    • Competition documents
    • Key dates
    • Site plans
    • FAQs
  • Event information

    Event information

    • Getting to the event
    • Venue facilities
    • Venue site plan
  • Become a Partner or Sponsor

    Become a Partner or Sponsor

    • Meet talented engineers with the most promise
    • Be part of a competition that drives and supports innovation.
  • Past events

    Past events

    • Lists of results
    • Photos and videos from previous years' events.

Railway Challenge News