What happens when students put their technical knowledge into practice and work together to build their own locomotive? The FH2Rail student team from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics at Aachen University of Applied Sciences shows us just that!
Together with Prof. Bernd Schmidt, the students presented their project on the Talent Stage at InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, the leading international trade fair for transportation technology. They shared their experiences from the Alpha Train European Railway Challenge and the IMechE Railway Challenge, in which they participated this year. Of course, they couldn’t leave out the trophy they won! But InnoTrans wasn’t just about showcasing their achievements: The students made numerous interesting connections, gathered new ideas for locomotive design, and secured support for upcoming railway challenges.
Prof. Bernd Schmidt expressed great satisfaction with the team’s performance at the trade show. The exchange with experts and companies provides valuable insights for the project’s future work. Three strategic focus areas are at the center of potential collaborations: extending the service life of digitally controlled relay signal boxes, the automated loading and dispatching of trains, and the optimization of harmonics in existing power converters. The goal is to develop innovative solutions for more efficient and sustainable rail transportation by combining academic expertise with practical experience.
FH2Rail stands for student engagement, technical creativity, and hands-on learning in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics at Aachen University of Applied Sciences. It’s a great example of how students apply their knowledge beyond the classroom, overcome challenges, and work together on innovative solutions for rail mobility. Curious? You can watch the student team’s presentation on the Talent Stage here:
plus.innotrans.de/eventdate/Talent-Stage-FH-Aachen-fh2rail-Railway-Challenge-Sieger-2026--46453486-c321-42e8-9a8d-bbb6e7cc46d1
Congratulations to the entire FH2Rail team on this successful presentation!
