ISTrain presents its new locomotive
Last Friday, ISTrain, the student group at Técnico dedicated to developing prototypes for the railway sector, presented its first electric locomotive, the Loco01 – Andorinha, in tribute to the former steam locomotive of CP – Comboios de Portugal. The team plans to start building the prototype in November and aims to participate in the MechE Railway Challenge, an international competition organized by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the United Kingdom.
The session was attended by Técnico faculty and representatives from the railway industry. Pedro Amaral, Vice-President of Técnico for Industry Interface, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, emphasized the project's alignment with the School’s strategy: “Student organizations that develop prototypes also challenge us, as professors, to rethink how we teach. This work shows resilience and critical thinking—qualities most sought after by companies in our students. Initiatives like ISTrain play a key role in education and in market engagement.”
The group reinforced that the project represents an opportunity for students to complement the knowledge acquired in their academic courses, always supported by faculty members and fellow students.
The session also included a roundtable discussion titled Engineering the Future of Rail: Innovation, Talent, and Global Challenges, which brought different perspectives on innovation and sustainability challenges in the railway sector, combining national and international experiences.
News and photos: Técnico