Introducing young people to transport innovation is an important part of developing the next generation of engineers, planners and technology specialists. ITS UK has announced the launch of a new set of challenges through Project Route, an initiative designed to engage young people with the ideas and problems shaping the future of transport.

The programme is led by ITS UK and DigData, with support from industry partners and endorsement from the UK Department for Transport. Its ambition is to engage 10,000 students between September 2026 and July 2027, providing practical exposure to data-driven careers across road, rail, aviation and maritime transport.

Three challenges have now gone live, each tailored to a different stage of education. Younger students can act as transport planners, analysing bus routes and recommending options that work best for passengers. Secondary and further education students take on a rail-planning task, finding a journey that meets time and budget constraints. University students can investigate autonomous vehicle safety through one of three analytical pathways: Excel-based data analysis, GIS mapping, or data science and AI modelling using R or Python.

These activities connect classroom learning with real transport problems. Students are encouraged to interpret data, compare alternatives and justify their recommendations, gaining a practical understanding of how digital tools support transport planning and operations. Participants who complete a challenge receive a certificate, while teachers and parents can also take part in the sessions.

Project ROUTE goes beyond individual online exercises. The wider programme includes workplace experiences, school-based data days, classroom resources and opportunities to engage directly with people working in transport technology. It builds on earlier digital education initiatives and aims to make career pathways more visible to young people from different backgrounds.

The initiative addresses a challenge facing the transport sector as AI, automation and connected systems become more widespread: technological progress depends on people who can interpret data and apply it to real-world decisions. Introducing these skills before students choose their university courses or careers may help them recognise transport as a field that combines engineering, digital technology, analytics and public service.

By turning topics such as bus networks and autonomous vehicle safety into accessible challenges, Project ROUTE offers a practical way to connect education with the changing needs of the mobility sector.

The whole article is here.

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS UK. Project ROUTE goes live with new challenges for young people. ITS UK [online]. September 23, 2026 [cited 2026-10-21]. Available from: https://www.its-uk.org/project-route-goes-live-with-new-challenges-for-young-people/