Railway Challenge

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.