The problem

The issue that TRAINSform addresses is twofold:

On one end, the solution addresses the waste of hundreds of retired trains nationwide. For decades, decommissioned trains in the United States have ended up in landfills, generating approximately 90 tons of waste per train - including steel, metal, and equipment. This practice also generates an estimated 93-125 tons of CO2 emissions per train, primarily from the decomposition of metal and the methane from non-recyclable components. Cities like Portland, San Francisco and Washington DC are in the process of retiring more than 900 trains in the next decade, with no clear plans for repurposing them.

On the other end, this solution addresses the need for affordable housing and community spaces in our urban environments. As cities grow, housing and community spaces are increasingly unaffordable or under-resourced, especially in historically marginalized neighborhoods impacted by redlining, disinvestment, and gentrification. The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports a 7.3 million-unit shortage of affordable homes for low-income renters, while public spaces—essential for social connection, education, and economic opportunity—are declining, with marginalized communities having significantly fewer libraries, parks, and cultural centers than wealthier areas.

Our solution

Our solution establishes train repurposing as a scalable model to prevent infrastructure waste, while addressing community needs, the scarcity of affordable community-driven spaces, and climate resiliency. Trains are ideal for adaptive reuse because: they are modular and prefabricated, facilitating scalability, easy and rapid transportation, and customization; were originally designed for humans, unlike other prefabricated modules like shipping containers; reusing a train results in ~75-90% lower carbon emissions than constructing a new building with the same volume; and reusing a vehicle overcomes many challenges present for similar projects using traditional construction. Despite these promising opportunities, there are limited examples of successful train retrofitting interventions, and no existing guidelines for implementing this model.

TRAINSform addresses this gap by developing a replicable retrofitting system and an open-source platform. 

The retrofitting system is engineered for net-zero performance, ensuring adaptability across diverse climates and contexts. At its core is a connector module, strategically positioned between two rail cars to house utilities, MEP systems, and battery storage. This module supports a solar-powered infrastructure, with modular photovoltaic panels installed on the train roof, enabling off-grid operation. This net-zero and off-grid functionality enhances resilience, making these spaces especially valuable in emergency situations.

TRAINSform will also offer an open-source platform. The platform will: 1) provide a comprehensive roadmap for train repurposing detailing best practices from site identification to transportation logistics to train retrofitting; 2) adaptable blueprints to apply the retrofitting technological system and connector module to a diversity of trains and contexts; and 3) a network of stakeholders and experts for guidance. This open-source platform will empower communities across the nation to replicate and customize train reuse projects.

By making this system scalable and accessible, TRAINSform has the potential to catalyze a national movement for circular, community-driven infrastructure.