ISTrain launches the ‘Andorinha’ electric locomotive for international competition
The Técnico students’ organisation showcased their first railway prototype and are preparing to compete in the United Kingdom.
The sound of a whistle echoed through the Great Hall at Técnico – Alameda campus, where an attentive audience awaited the announcement: “Ladies and gentlemen, you have reached your destination.” This moment marked the public presentation of ISTrain, the only university students’ organisation in the Iberian Peninsula dedicated to developing railway prototypes.
On 19 September 2025, ISTrain unveiled its first electric locomotive, Loco01, named ‘Andorinha’ in honor of the oldest steam locomotive of CP – Comboios de Portugal. The team plans to begin physical construction in November, with a clear goal in sight: to represent Técnico in the IMechE Railway Challenge, an international competition organized by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the United Kingdom.
“This moment is a testament to the progress, dedication, and hard work of a team that has been working for months to bring us to where we are today”, said Aliya Ibrahimo, a master’s student in Mechanical Engineering and president of the students’ organisation. “People say that there is a competitive environment at Técnico, but we don’t feel that way. We feel supported by both our professors and other students’ organisations. This isn’t just our project; it belongs to everyone who believed in us and helped us”.
The session brought together professors and representatives from the railway industry, who attended the event. Pedro Amaral, the Vice-president of Técnico for Corporate Interface, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, highlighted the project’s connection to the School’s strategy: “Students’ organisations that develop prototypes also challenge us, as professors, to rethink the way we teach. This work shows resilience and critical thinking, skills that companies most seek in our students. Initiatives such as ISTrain play a decisive role in training and connecting with the market”.
Hugo Magalhães, a professor at Técnico, recalled the origins of the project: ‘This initiative began nine months ago, and nine months is just the right amount of time to see something new come to fruition.’ He also set the students a challenge: “We need global engineers with solid skills. Competitions like the one in the United Kingdom will be demanding, but that’s what we want: to play in the top league. This project is more than an academic challenge, it is a passion for life.”
More than 20 Técnico students, “united by the same passion for trains”, embrace this mission of building an electric locomotive model. “We believe that ISTrain adds something new to Técnico, providing students with the opportunity to explore an area that is rarely taught, the railway sector. While traditional academic training focuses on basic subjects, ISTrain complements this knowledge and fosters a common enthusiasm: a love of trains”, Aliya explained.
The session also included a round table dedicated to the topic Engineering the Future of Rail: Innovation, Talent, and Global Challenges, which brought to the stage different perspectives on the challenges of innovation and sustainability in the railway sector, combining national and international experiences.
A sessão incluiu ainda uma mesa-redonda dedicada ao tema Engineering the Future of Rail: Innovation, Talent, and Global Challenges, que trouxe a palco diferentes perspetivas sobre os desafios de inovação e sustentabilidade no setor ferroviário, cruzando experiências nacionais e internacionais.