Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK) and the Data Inspiration Group have launched Project Route, a free, live virtual work experience programme that invites students from Year 7 through to university to solve real-world transport data challenges, ranging from bus route planning to the safety of autonomous vehicles.
Endorsed by the Department for Transport (DfT) and backed by a group of corporate partners, the programme will run from September 2026 to July 2027 and aims to engage 10,000 students in data and digital roles in transport. It has been designed to show students how data and digital technology keep road, rail, aviation and maritime networks running safely and efficiently.
“Transport is becoming increasingly digital and data-driven, and we need to make sure we have a new generation of people who will design, build and operate that future network,” said Max Sugarman, chief executive of ITS UK.
Three challenges now live
The first three challenges, launched on 23 September, are aimed at different age groups:
- First Step: Bus Route Detective – Choose the Smartest Route. Aimed at Years 7–9 (Years 8–10 in Northern Ireland; S1–S3 in Scotland), this challenge asks students to join a transport planning team, analyse how bus routes are used and recommend the best option for passengers.
- Next Step: The Journey to Your Future – Can Rail Get You There On Time, On Budget, On Track? Aimed at Years 10–13 and further education (FE) (Years 11–14 and FE in Northern Ireland; S4–S6 in Scotland), this challenge puts students in a rail planning team to recommend a journey that gets passengers to a critical appointment on time and within budget.
- Step Up: Can We Trust the Ride? When Autonomous Vehicles Take the Drive. University and higher education students choose one of three analytical pathways (Excel data analysis, geographic information system (GIS) mapping, or data science and AI modelling in R or Python) to investigate the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles.
Every student who completes a challenge receives a certificate. Parents and teachers can also register and attend any of the sessions.
“Project ROUTE brings transport careers to life by giving students the chance to work with data on challenges they can immediately understand and relate to – from planning a bus journey to exploring whether we can trust autonomous vehicles,” explained Rachel Keane, founder of the Data Inspiration Group. “By connecting young people directly with real industry challenges and the organisations tackling them, we can build their confidence with data and open their eyes to career opportunities they may never previously have considered. We’re incredibly excited to see Project ROUTE now go live and to welcome our first students.”
Industry partners
Project Route’s lead partner is Arup. Amey and Kainos are platinum partners; CGI, Q-Free, The Traffic Group and Ridango are silver partners; and RTA Associates and Verra Mobility are bronze partners.
The programme is delivered through Digdata, the Data Inspiration Group’s initiative that connects students, educators and data professionals through live online challenges, on-site data days and classroom resources.
“Project ROUTE is about showing young people that transport offers exciting careers in data and technology, while giving them the opportunity to work on real-world challenges facing the sector,” added Sugarman. “With the first challenges now live, we’re looking forward to seeing thousands of students get involved over the coming year.”
Registration for Project Route is free and open now at digdata.online.
