Institution news
Registration is now open for the Institution's Railway Challenge 2027, and we warmly invite university students, apprentices and early career engineers in industry from around the world to enter a team and enjoy another year of this exciting engineering competition.
The competition documents have also been made available ahead of the competing teams convening at the Challenge Final on 24-27 June 2027.
More than just a contest, the Railway Challenge continues to bring together teams of university students, as well as apprentices and graduates working in industry from across the world to test their business knowledge, design ability and technical skills in a live test environment.
Teams are able to sign up to compete until 27 November 2026; visit the new Railway Challenge 2027 website for full details and registration.
About the Railway Challenge
Organised by our Railway Division, the Railway Challenge provides a brilliant opportunity for aspiring teams to compete in yet a 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 Railway Challenge provides the real-life experience of the entire cycle of designing and manufacturing a prototype in a structured environment supported by academic and industry mentors. In a fairly risk free but representative environment, teams and individuals develop key engineering skills alongside business and soft skills that will enhance their future in an engineering career.
For institutions which have not previously participated in the Railway Challenge, there is an Entry Level option and the intention is that this provides teams with a stepping stone towards a full entry in a future year, where it may seem too daunting to both design and construct a locomotive within a single year.
Teams taking the Entry Level option are not required to manufacture a locomotive being only required to submit a design of their proposed loco. The design must follow all rules of the main competition, but Entry Level teams must also submit a CAD model to demonstrate the overall structure of their locomotive and a more detailed design of one chosen sub-system. Entry Level teams are still expected to compete in all the other presentation challenges.
For further information about the Railway Challenge, including rules and key deadlines, benefits and reasons to participate, registration and much more, please visit the new Railway Challenge 2027 website.