SPITZKE student competition.

Plan, design, win!

Plan and design by yourself.

It’s that time again! The SPITZKE student competition is entering its sixth round.

SPITZKE carries out new construction, repair and maintenance of railway systems across Europe as a system supplier. Through the SPITZKE student competition, you also have the opportunity to get up close. Tackle the project challenge and secure the commission.

Do you study civil engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering or mechatronics? Then challenge the winning university from the last student competition. Win the SPITZKE trophy for you and your university.

The task 2025/​2026

The task and the processing time are expected to be announced on this website in early/​mid-2025.

The reigning champion

On September 26, 2024, the best submission from the competition was chosen at InnoTrans 2024. Prize money and award go to Erfurt University of Applied Sciences. The students Hannes Jahn, Erik Klinski, Marc-Aurél Kopp, Jean-Luc Petzold and Sebastian Stange were able to impress with their project work and thus replace TU Braunschweig as the winner of the student competition after three titles in a row.

The task to be solved in this year’s student competition was extremely challenging and more topical than ever. The participants had to carry out an analysis of the effectiveness and efficiency of the execution of a SPITZKE SE corridor project, taking into account preparation, framework conditions and, last but not least, a large number of trades with a high proportion of work, as well as discussing risks and opportunities.

We would also like to thank all the other participants and universities for their inspiring submissions and interest in our student competition: Piravinija Perinpanayagam and Aron Welte from TU Braunschweig; Sina Moser from Munich University of Applied Sciences and Magnus Fechler from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences.

Registration guarantees you:

— The chance to win cash and material prizes — Participation in the awards ceremony at InnoTrans 2026 — ETCS points* for your studies — Exchanges with SPITZKE’s experts — Insights into the planning and implementation of new construction and maintenance of railroad facilities (*points allocated only after consultation with your university)

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Overview of the last few years

2024

Task:
— Analysis of the effectiveness and efficiency of the execution of a SPITZKE SE corridor project
— Presentation and comparison of ancillary services – What needs to be considered during preparation?
— Requirements and framework conditions for the construction companies
— Many trades and a high proportion of services – How can this be solved?
— Assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of a corridor project – What are the risks and opportunities?

Winner: Hannes Jahn, Erik Klinski, Marc-Aurél Kopp, Jean-Luc Petzold, Sebastian Stange // FH Erfurt

2022

Task:
— Creation of a concept for the implementation of BIM projects in track construction using the example of the track extension in Großbeeren
— Presentation of the challenge as well as the advantages and disadvantages of BIM
— Modeling of the track systems
— Target/​actual comparison of the track system
— Additional task: Drafting a quantity increase and quantity reduction and carrying out a comparison of the tender quantities with the billing quantities

Winner: Johanna Huck // TU Braunschweig

2020/​2021

Task:
— Design and plan a superstructure and substructure for a double-track section
— Calculate the line layout of track cants, ramps, transition curves, curve 2
— Cross-section drawing of straight and maximal track cants
— Conceive a route plan
— Additional tasks: Create a model of the cross section

Winner: Jannick Wagner // TU Braunschweig

2018/​2019

Task:
— Compare the conventional execution of services to the execution using an assembly line method based on a real superstructure project
— The comparisons of the two technologies should especially focus on the areas of time-required, costs and the environment
— The goal is to determine which technology ensures the highest possible availability of the track, the resource personnel, which is consistently growing in relevance, is also to be included.

Winner: Torben Jähnsch // TU Braunschweig

2016/​2017

Task:
— Extension and expansion of the tracks at the Großbeeren site
— Work out a complex offer based on a tender document
— New construction of 4 tracks & 4 switches with a total length of 1,262 m

Winner: Jade Hochschule Oldenburg