Laura Chaubard: “Developing AI technologies tailored to the rail sector”
In 2024, SNCF Group teamed up with École Polytechnique to create an academic Chair dedicated to advancing education and research in AI and mobility optimization, rallying engineering students to these challenges. We put our questions to the school’s Director General.
SNCF Group: How is sustainable mobility incorporated into the work of students at École Polytechnique?
Laura Chaubard: We live in an age of heady scientific and technological progress. Obviously there’s artificial intelligence (AI), but breakthroughs are also happening in fields like health, physics—advancements that could be just as revolutionary and even faster than AI itself. Take quantum technologies and nuclear fusion, for example. Mastering these innovations will play a crucial role in shaping the global influence and sovereignty of France and Europe in coming years. Our engineering students are deeply engaged in addressing the challenges of the sustainable development. And our primary goal is to equip them with a comprehensive understanding of the green transition—helping them see the bigger picture.
SNCF Group: And how do you deliver this “bigger picture”?
LC: When we discuss transportation, we consider not just the vehicles themselves, but also the infrastructure, energy sources, industry, and the political, geopolitical and demographic factors in play. This complexity may seem daunting, but learning to navigate it is essential for our students, as future engineers. They’re eager to make a real impact. And they’re fully aware of the critical role that a modal shift to rail transport plays in achieving sustainability. Through our new academic Chair, research teams are collaborating closely to develop AI solutions for industrial and mission-critical applications that will help SNCF improve efficiency and productivity. AI is more than just well-known tools like ChatGPT—there is a vast, untapped potential in AI technologies, and the race for solutions that deliver real economic value has not yet begun. With the right talent and partnerships, France and Europe can lead the way in this field.
Artificial intelligence will drive technological breakthroughs that optimize the rail sector’s inherently complex systems.
Director, École Polytechnique
SNCF Group: How can AI help advance the rail industry?
LC: By leveraging SNCF’s industry expertise, real-world applications, and extensive data, we can develop AI technologies and models that are not only more sustainable but also much safer and more economically viable. Artificial intelligence will drive technological breakthroughs that optimize the rail sector’s inherently complex systems. For instance, AI-powered predictive analytics will increase traffic capacity by creating “safety bubbles” around trains, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing delays. Predictive maintenance will improve the availability of rolling stock and infrastructure, minimizing unexpected malfunctions. AI-driven data sharing will also improve real-time information accuracy, allowing operators to anticipate and mitigate disruptions more effectively. Our researchers are definitely excited about developing new AI technologies tailored to the rail sector.
Share the article