Build the trains. Connect the tracks. Make the whole system work.
Our LEGO Train Engineering Workshops are hands-on STEM experiences for UK primary schools and libraries.
Working in small teams and without step-by-step instructions, pupils design and build their own motorised LEGO trains. They test their ideas, solve mechanical problems and improve their designs before combining everything into one large railway network.
The challenge is not simply to build a train.
The whole class must create a transport system that works.
The Engineering Challenge
Each team must:
- design and build a reliable motorised LEGO train;
- create a stable wheel and axle system;
- balance the weight of the train;
- test how smoothly and reliably it moves;
- identify problems and improve the design.
There is no single correct solution.
Pupils make their own design decisions, test their ideas and learn from constructions that do not work immediately.
Once the trains are ready, the entire class works together to build a shared railway network.
Tracks must connect.
Routes must remain clear.
Every train must move reliably around the system.
A successful individual train is only one part of the challenge. The final railway must work as one connected network.
What Pupils Learn
The workshop introduces pupils to real engineering ideas through a practical and memorable challenge.
Pupils explore:
- wheels, axles and motorised mechanisms;
- stability and load distribution;
- friction, movement and mechanical resistance;
- designing for a specific purpose;
- testing and improving a prototype;
- working within a larger connected system;
- teamwork, communication and shared decision-making.
The railway theme provides an exciting context, but the learning is centred on engineering, problem-solving and collaboration.
Curriculum Links
Design and Technology
Pupils design, build, test and evaluate a functional mechanical product.
They use wheels, axles, motors and structural components, and improve their designs through practical testing.
Science
The workshop supports learning about forces, motion, friction, balance and simple electrical power sources.
Pupils observe how changes to a design affect movement and performance.
Mathematics
Pupils apply measurement, estimation, spatial reasoning and route planning while building trains and connecting the shared railway.
Teamwork and Communication
Every team contributes to the final system.
Pupils must explain their ideas, divide responsibilities, solve problems and cooperate with the rest of the class.
The workshop can also support wider learning about transport, infrastructure and the historical importance of railways.
A Whole-Class Engineering Outcome
Most LEGO activities finish with several separate models.
This workshop finishes with one large collaborative result.
Every train, section of track and route becomes part of the same working railway. Pupils can immediately see how their own design decisions affect the wider system.
The final build is large, visual and exciting, while still being based on clear engineering and curriculum outcomes.
Everything Is Provided
PrepareRobo brings all specialist equipment required for the workshop, including:
- LEGO building components;
- motors and power units;
- wheels and axles;
- railway tracks;
- train-building equipment;
- all supporting workshop materials.
Schools do not need to purchase or prepare any LEGO equipment.
A hall or another large room with open floor space is ideal, as pupils need enough space to construct and test the shared railway network.
Tables are required for the initial train-building stage.
Suitable For
- Primary schools and libraries
- KS1 and KS2 pupils
- STEM enrichment days
- Design and Technology weeks
- Engineering and transport topics
- Themed learning days
- Mixed-ability groups
- Community learning programmes
No previous LEGO, robotics or engineering experience is required.
The sessions are structured and carefully supported so that every pupil can contribute.
We can deliver the workshop to one class or arrange several sessions across the school day, depending on pupil numbers and your timetable.
What Makes This Workshop Different?
- Pupils build without step-by-step instructions.
- Every team creates a working motorised train.
- The activity combines mechanical engineering with creative design.
- Pupils test, modify and improve their own solutions.
- The entire class contributes to one large railway system.
- The workshop is fully hands-on and screen-free.
- All specialist equipment is provided.
- The format offers a genuinely different alternative to standard school robotics activities.
Launching September 2026
LEGO Train Engineering Workshops will officially launch on 1 September 2026.
Schools and libraries can pre-book workshops now.
Please complete the enquiry form below with:
- the estimated number of pupils;
- the year groups involved;
- the number of classes;
- your preferred date;
- any particular curriculum requirements.
We will then recommend the most suitable timetable for your group.