30.03.12
iRail competitors mentored by YRP
Young Railway Professionals (YRP) mentored students at the recent iRail event in Derby, with the aim of encouraging young people to consider a career in rail.
Professor Andrew McNaughton, chief engineer of High Speed 2 Ltd announced the winners of the competition.
Teams of five students from twelve secondary schools in theDerbyarea, as well as students fromDerbyCollege, took part in one of two ‘railway challenges’. Challenge A was to design a freight vehicle for carrying a variety of goods. Challenge B was to find a solution for crossing a railway line.
The students also toured of Bombardier’s Litchurch Lane production facility and Network Rail’s East Midlands Control Centre.
With the help of the YRP mentors, and from other railway professionals stationed at display stands around the ‘Carriage Shop’ theatre, the students were tasked to come up with solutions to the challenges, which were presented in front of a panel of three judges who asked them questions in the style of ‘Dragons Den’.
The overall winner of the day was Woodlands School with their design for crossing the railway line.
David Horton, organiser of the YRP mentors for the day, said: “The teams were able to grasp the problems presented, pick up the basic railway knowledge and weigh up the pros and cons of various possible solutions – all in a short space of time.
“It is exactly this kind of proactive attitude and teamwork that we need to look for in our budding young Railway Engineers. I hope many of them will consider a career in the Rail Industry!”
RTM attended the event, and full coverage will be published in the April/May edition of Rail Technology Magazine.
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