Bombardier Transportation launched a worldwide Web-based contest — "YouRail - Visions of Modern Transportation" — for the creation of innovative interior designs for future trains.

"While input from rail operators, our direct customers, is still crucial, this contest enables us to engage passengers directly to better understand their needs and propose innovative solutions," says Martin Ertl, chief innovation officer for Bombardier Transportation. "Within a few days we have received 1.000 entries. More than 780 Web users are already active members of the YouRail community and are taking part in what is called open innovation. This demonstrates the potential this kind of end-user involvement also has in our business."

Participants in the competition are invited to submit their proposals for different categories over the Web, and Bombardier executives and external experts will select the winning design, awarding prizes worth $15,000 for the best entries.

The successful designs will be presented by Bombardier in September 2010 at the InnoTrans in Berlin.

The contest is open to everybody interested in innovative interior train design. Participants can submit freely created designs for three types of travel: leisure, business and commuter. In a second category, a 3D configuration tool can be used to design seat covers to create inviting interiors.