MxV Rail in August held the annual University Days event at its Pueblo Plex test facility and the Pueblo Convention Center in Colorado.
Free to university students and staff who are interested in exploring opportunities in railroad science, the two-day conference agenda (download below) was designed to “tackle the greatest challenges in rail engineering and technology and support the next generation of railroad industry leaders,” according to MxV Rail. This year’s University Days drew 30 attendees from 13 universities and two Class I railroads.
The first day of the 2024 conference looked at the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Strategic Research Initiatives (SRI). There were guest lectures from two Class I railroads, updates from MxV Rail experts, and updates from university teams who are currently working on “grand challenge research projects,” according to MxV Rail. The second day allowed the students to walk the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing (FAST) track, allowing them to observe infrastructure, inspection, and mechanical problem-solving.
“Every year I’m inspired by the diversity of student talents and ambitions of the university teams competing in grand challenge research,” MxV Rail Scientist Anish Poudel said. “It’s an honor to host the program, and I can honestly say that they inspire our research initiatives at MxV Rail as much as we are supporting their work.”
MxV Rail reported that plans are already under way for 2025 University Days; watch the MxV Rail conferennce page for details.
Every other month, MxV Rail articles are published in Railway Age and RT&S. They have included: “Wheel-Rail Creep Curve Development Using RCFS” (Railway Age, September 2024) and “Analysis of AHS-Caused UDEs” (Railway Age, July 2024).
