Futuring Railways by Design: A Reflection on Multidisciplinary Student Internships for Indian Railways

Design has the power to shape the future of mobility, and in the context of Indian Railways, one of the world's largest transport networks, research-driven design interventions are critical for creating inclusive, sustainable, and technologically advanced travel experiences. The Railway Design Centre (RDC) at NID launched an initiative: a winter internship program inviting students from three NID campuses (Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Bengaluru) to co-create future-ready solutions for rail travel. This paper presents a case study of the "Futuring Railways" project, which sought to craft innovative interventions grounded in real-world contexts while leveraging emerging technologies. Ten students from diverse design disciplines participated in a structured four-week program, combining immersive field research with rapid ideation and visualisations. Phase one involved brainstorming, secondary research on global railway trends, and primary research through observational studies at Ahmedabad station and short journeys to Siddhapur and Kevadia in the state of Gujarat. Opportunity mapping and priority matrices guided concept development along with consistent faculty mentorship. Themes explored included dignity of travel, hygiene, wayfinding, inclusive design, medical emergency response, AI-driven solutions, and product-service systems. The internship generated visionary concepts such as interactive navigation kiosks with haptic feedback, redesigned multipurpose stalls for essentials, AI-enabled emergency pods for personalized travel, telemedicine integration for onboard health crises, and robotic rescue systems for post-collision scenarios. AI-assisted visualization accelerated ideation and communication of design proposals. The study demonstrates how short-term, multidisciplinary engagements can catalyse systemic innovation for public transport. It highlights the need for adaptive frameworks that integrate user-centric design, digital technologies, and sustainability principles to address future mobility challenges. Futuring railways through design-led research offers a pathway to transform India's rail ecosystem into a safer, smarter, and more inclusive network. Future programs should extend timelines, embed closer industry mentorship, and establish implementation roadmaps to translate visionary ideas into actionable solutions.