Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison welcomed the expansion of the Regional Rail Revival Design Challenge 2050 competition into local schools.

After a successful pilot program in the Bendigo region last year, this year’s Design Challenge has been expanded to primary and secondary schools in the Gippsland, Geelong and Ballarat regions.

The challenge is a team-based competition for students from years 4 to 10, which encourages students to develop innovative design ideas for the future of rail travel in response to the question: What does the smart and connected city of 2050 look like?

Students have the chance to be creative as they explore ways to better the experience of train travel, improve the way passengers get around a station, and use smart and sustainable technology for a more enjoyable journey.

The most innovative design ideas will be shortlisted, with students explaining their concepts to a panel of rail experts from Rail Projects Victoria and competing to win prizes for themselves and their schools.

The winners of the inaugural challenge in 2020 – a group of students in Years 7 and 8 from Bendigo South East College – pitched the concept of using augmented reality to educate train travellers about the indigenous and historical landmarks on their train journey.

Schools and students are supported during the challenge through a series of guided learning hours and mentoring workshops, with regional tech schools helping teams to develop their ideas and learn more about the rail industry.

Students use skills across a number of subjects including engineering, science, mathematics, visual arts, visual communication and design, and learn about major rail projects in their regions and the benefits these projects will deliver to their local communities.

Schools will register teams in term three and the competition takes place throughout term four. Registrations are now open www.regionalrailrevival.vic.gov.au/designchallenge2050

Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle

“This is a great opportunity for students in the Ballarat region to be inventive and tell us their ideas for public transport, they will learn more about transport planning and can win some fantastic prizes.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison

“Our students have creative and innovative minds, with endless ideas. We want to hear their ideas about regional transport for smart and connected cities of the future.”