Train of the future competition launched

Engineers are urged to come up with ideas which could transform rail travel

Engineers have been urged to enter a competition to design the train of the future. The winning entries will be developed to produce a radical train demonstrator that will show how a step change in performance across the network could be achieved. 

The competition is the brainchild of the Enabling Innovation Team (EIT), a group set up by the rail industry in 2012 to stimulate innovation, and is being run on their behalf by Frazer-Nash Consultancy.

Entries must be submitted by early May and will take the form of a 500-word synopsis of the idea. Richard Jones, rail business manager at Frazer-Nash, said: “We are looking for something transformational. Where is the rail rolling stock crying out for some better answers?”

Up to seven ideas will be selected to create a technology demonstrator. Winning entries will be selected based on factors including the readiness of the technology, the potential impact relative to the cost in the demonstrator, and export potential. Interested parties will be invited to an event that will present the competition process and explain the assessment criteria. 

Jones added that the best guide to inform ideas is the Rail Technical Strategy – a document published late last year that maps out opportunities to transform the railways over the next 30 years. It outlines four challenges the railways face in the future: increasing capacity, improving customer satisfaction, cutting cost and reducing CO₂ emissions. 

Jones said: “Ideas which could offer a step change in any of those areas would be encouraged but we do not want to limit people’s thinking so proposals outside those areas are welcome. We are open to real innovation.”

Up to 50% of the cost of creating the demonstrators will be covered by the EIT, with the rest coming from entrants. 

Bidders will be able to keep the intellectual property rights to the technology and any rewards that come from the innovation.

• To find out more and take part in the competition visit: www.futurerailway.org