IMechE adds new safety test to Railway Challenge

A new safety test has been added to the IMechE Railway Challenge for 2019.

Teams will have to design their locomotive to stop automatically as close as possible to a marked point on the track.

They will also have to produce a technical poster to encourage participants to communicate effectively how the principal systems of their locomotive work.

Railway Challenge chair professor Simon Iwnicki, of the University of Huddersfield, said: “Introducing an auto-stop element to the competition encourages the next generation of engineers to understand the critical nature of railway safety. It also gives them practical experience in designing a safety critical system.”

The auto–stop function element will be one of a series of track-based and presentation challenges in the competition, which this year will be held across June 29-30 at the Stapleford Miniature Railway in Leicestershire.

Participants are tasked with designing and manufacturing a miniature gauge, railway locomotive in accordance with a number of precise rules.

So far 14 teams have been confirmed for the 2019 Railway Challenge, including entrants from Egypt, Germany and Poland.

Confirmed teams taking part in the Railway Challenge 2019 are:

1. University of Huddersfield
2. University of Warwick
3. FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences & Reuschling, team Emma loves J.I.M
4. Transport for London
5. Brunel University London, team The Brunelian Express
6. Helwan University, team Apene
7. Ricardo Rail
8. University of Sheffield
9. Bombardier Transportation & University of Derby
10. SNC-Lavalin & Transit
11. Newcastle University
12. South Western Railway/ CEMAST
13. Poznań University of Technology, team PUTrain
14. Network Rail.