LATEST NEWS

Recently, the iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 selection process concluded with the announcement of its winners. Four projects from the Human-Environment System Design Institute at the School of Design and Art, Southwest Jiaotong University—《New Generation Metro Industrial Design》, 《Single-axle Monorail Straddle Train》, 《Industrial Design for Digital Rail Transit Systems》, and《Superconducting EDS Maglev Train》—stood out among nearly 10,003 entries from 68 countries and regions worldwide, securing awards. This marks the third consecutive year—following 2023 and 2024—that the Human-Environment System Design Institute at SWJTU's School of Design and Art has received this prestigious honor.

On the morning of December 18, 2025, the "AI Empowers Industrial Design and the Development of the Intelligent Rail Transit Industry" Conference was grandly held in Changchun. At the beginning of the conference, an important cooperative unveiling ceremony was successfully held — Professor Zhi Jinyi, Dean of the School of Design and Art at Southwest Jiaotong University, and Associate Professor Wang Chao, Deputy Director of the Institute of Man-Machine-Environment Systems, jointly represented the university, and together with relevant responsible persons of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd., officially unveiled the "Green and Intelligent Integrated Industrial Design Innovation Research Institute" co-established by both parties. The establishment of this research institute marks that the School of Design and Art at Southwest Jiaotong University has entered a new stage of development in industry-university integration and collaborative innovation in the field of green and intelligent rail transit design. It will build a high-level and professional cooperation platform for discipline talent training, core technology research and development, and the industrial transformation of scientific research achievements.

With the theme of "Design Innovation Driving the Future of Rail Transit", the 2025 CRRC Changchun International Design Challenge solicited innovative designs for future intercity trains globally. The competition attracted numerous participants from across the country, with a total of 338 entries received. In the final, the Institute of Man-Machine System & Environment, Southwest Jiaotong University stood out and won one gold and one silver award.

On December 18, 2025, the Conference on Artificial Intelligence Empowering Industrial Design and Intelligent Rail Transit Industry Development was grandly held. As an invited academic institution, the Institute of Human-Machine Systems and Environment, Southwest Jiaotong University participated in the conference, conducted in-depth discussions with experts from multiple universities and enterprises, and jointly explored new pathways for artificial intelligence to empower industrial design and the development of intelligent rail transit.

On June 18, reporters learned from the China (Chongqing) Monorail Transit Development Achievements Exhibition and Promotion Conference & the "2025 International Monorail Transit (Chongqing) Sustainable Development Forum" that up to now, the city has put into operation 14 urban rail transit lines, including monorail and metro, with a total operating mileage of 575 kilometers. According to the relevant person in charge of the Rail Transit Operation Company of Chongqing Transport Development & Investment Group, the new-generation straddle-type monorail train is the first "Panda-themed" straddle-type monorail train in China. It adopts the classic black-and-white color scheme of giant pandas, with its front designed in the shape of a panda head, panda patterns painted on both sides of the body, and a streamlined body profile. The train is designed with large-area sightseeing glass windows and equipped with a panoramic sunroof on the roof, allowing passengers to enjoy the unique mountain-city scenery from multiple angles during the journey. It will become a lovely and lively mobile scenery line in the city.

On March 28, 2025, the "Central Plains Railway · Heart of Henan" themed sightseeing train was officially rolled off the production line. Its exterior design integrates the shape of the Yellow River with the Central Plains skyline, featuring surging wave patterns and colored pottery glaze techniques to express the dynamic beauty of Yellow River culture, while the interior incorporates distinctive regional elements of Henan with "one scene per carriage", turning the train into a mobile cultural pavilion and improving passengers’ travel satisfaction and cultural experience.

On December 29, 2024, the CR450 EMU prototype was officially unveiled in Beijing. With core performance indicators including operating speed, energy consumption, interior noise and braking distance reaching international advanced levels, the EMU significantly reduces long-distance travel time, improves braking performance and operational stability, and is equipped with diverse intelligent service functions. It has achieved comprehensive upgrades in drive control, driving interaction, safety monitoring and passenger service systems, marking that China’s high-speed railway technology has entered a new stage of development.

On May 28, 2024 local time, the signing ceremony for the 24-unit metro train project was held in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Liu Changqing, Chairman of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd., and Ronaldo Vancelote, President of Belo Horizonte Metro Company, signed the contract jointly. Our institute participated in the exterior design of the trains, which marks the first time that Chinese metro trains will serve the fourth-largest city in Brazil, providing intelligent mobility solutions for local residents.

On May 24, 2024, the first train of Chongqing Rail Transit Line 2, upgraded from 4-car formation to 8-car formation, was officially put into operation. The train has been comprehensively optimized with anti-slip stainless steel seats and wear-resistant, stain-proof and durable flooring materials; the circular handrails have been redesigned into a triangular shape to improve passenger grip comfort. The pneumatic doors have been upgraded to gear-driven ones, energy-saving LED lighting has been adopted in new carriages to enhance brightness, and the broadcasting and network systems have been fully updated. These improvements provide citizens with a more convenient, safer and more comfortable travel experience.

On May 10, 2024, the first new train for Shenzhen Metro Line 11 and the inaugural train for the fourth phase of Line 3 arrived on the same day. The interior of the new Line 11 train features a blue-purple color scheme, with coordinated seat and handrail tones. The seats are adorned with petal-shaped accents on both sides, embodying a simple and elegant style. Two business-class cabins incorporate design elements such as walnut wood-grain panels and partition screens, aimed at enhancing comfort and privacy for high-end business travelers commuting to the airport. The delivery of these new trains marks the entry of Shenzhen Metro's operational capacity into a new stage of enhancement.