GEN Y RAIL
Making rail an easy decision back-ups
through to electro- magnetised carriages.
The most innovative idea of the day, though, had to go to one of the teams from Stockport College – The Stockportables.
The all-boy
outfi t talked about using a new product called aero-gel, which has extreme insulation properties and is currently being tested by the armed forces, to improve insulation on the train.
Not surprisingly then, the Stockportables was one of the teams to make it through to the fi nal in the over-16s category alongside its college counterpart, Total Train Integration, which eventually went on to take the national title in this segment.
North west heat
In the north west heat, which took place in Manchester’s stunning Town Hall, four teams made it through to the fi nal: two teams from the under-16s and two from the over-16s.
However, like at all the other heats, trying to pick a winner was extremely hard for the judges. One of the judges, Dr Crinela Pislaru, senior lecturer at the Institute of Railway Research (IRR), University of Huddersfi eld, told RTM: “The exchange of ideas from across the region has been so positive, and done in an extremely ‘fair play’ environment.
“It has been really refreshing to see the ideas from all of the teams, and I am very glad to see an equal number of boys and girls participating. I am very keen to encourage children to study STEM subjects. These types of events can only help in stimulating interest in these areas going forward.”
Throughout competed
against
the day, 16 teams each
other,
with ideas ranging from driverless trains through to e-ticketing, solar power
22 | rail technology magazine Jun/Jul 14
Saima Latiff, lecturer in the engineering department at Stockport College, said: “I think it is great that these events allow the students to showcase their own abilities. They have shown that they are understanding their learning, applying it and putting it into practice.
“You can see the students coming together and bringing their talent together. I think the lads are shocked [to have won], but I’m very proud of them. This event overlaps with so many different partners
in the industry,
but brings them together under one umbrella.
“We need more events these.”
like
One of the team members of the Stockportables is also about to start his career the rail industry. Stephen Kelly, 19, has now been accepted onto Network Rail’s apprenticeship scheme, after going to Stockport College to do his BTEC in engineering.
He told RTM: “Originally I applied for the programme at 16, but I didn’t have the right qualifi cations
as I was doing
law, psychology and biology. I didn’t like the subjects, and so decided to go to Stockport College to do my BTEC in engineering. I applied again and got through.
“I’m doing the electrifi cation
programme, but you can choose track or signalling as well.
“If I had been given a chance to attend an event like Gen Y Rail before I went to college fi rst
the time, I would
economics,
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