Attracting new generation of railroaders in North America through K-12 activities and programs

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Abstract

The North American rail industry has long acknowledged a growing problem with a lack of new university-educated rail transportation and engineering professionals to replace the aging workforce. Students choosing to participate in higher education often arrive at universities and colleges with a predefined career in mind. As a result, it is critical that the industry develop pre-college programs, materials, and activities that can introduce students to the modern side of the industry. This paper examines two approaches to address this challenge. The first approach concentrates on the documentation and further development of various railway-focused distance learning activities, including hands-on desktop activities (some leveraging 3D printing) and computer-based activities. The second approach is a summer youth program that has immersed nearly 500 high school students for a week of railway transportation and engineering related activities, either in full on-campus, or in hybrid format. On-campus students spent five full days on campus, mixing field visits with classroom and laboratory experiments, while hybrid format students first spent 2 days at home participating in live remote sessions via Zoom and completing online and tabletop activities, then travelled to a host campus for 2 days of in-person activities and field visits. A guidebook to the activities and materials developed under these projects is available for interested stakeholders through the Rail Learning System hosted by Michigan Technological University. An exploration of past students lifepaths since completing the program also gives indication that several program participants continue to follow their interest on to rail transportation related careers.

Publication Title

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part F Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit

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