The future of local public transport

Mission design

Every morning, millions of people flock to the S-Bahn commuter trains in Germany’s urban centers. In Munich alone, hundreds of thousands of people rely on them every day to reach their destination safely and on time. But behind every smooth commute is a story of innovation and human ingenuity – a story showing that thoughtful design not only looks better, but is also more sustainable. Benno Schiefer, former senior industrial designer at Siemens Mobility and now in phased retirement, knows this only too well. As Inventor of the Year 2025, he was honored for an innovation that seems simple at first glance: How do you design the front of an S-Bahn train? Yet behind the front lies a complex puzzle of aerodynamics, aesthetics and everyday usability – a puzzle whose solution could become groundbreaking for the entire industry.

The invisible power of form

“The original exterior design brief came from an external studio as part of the tender documents and, while modern, was not ideal in terms of aerodynamics,” Schiefer recalls, describing the start of his mission. What might have seemed like a purely aesthetic problem to outsiders turned out to be a fundamental question of energy efficiency. Unlike cars, S-Bahn trains typically operate bidirectionally, meaning they can run in both directions. This presents the following aerodynamic challenge: The train’s front and rear must alternately function as the front or rear depending on the direction of travel. However, both positions place fundamentally different aerodynamic demands on the head shape. At the vehicle’s front, the air should flow around the vehicle with as little resistance as possible to minimize stagnation pressure losses. At the rear, however, controlled flow separation is desired. In automotive engineering, this conflict is resolved through asymmetrical design: streamlined and rounded at the front, deliberately angular at the rear.

For a rail vehicle, this solution is impossible – because the front and rear are formed by one and the same train head, which must equally fulfill both aerodynamic functions. Schiefer’s approach was as simple as it was ingenious: He essentially merged the form and function of a vehicle front with that of a vehicle rear.
The result is an organically flowing head shape that is optimized for both functions and reduces air resistance equally in both directions of travel.

This was based on precise flow analyses and numerous simulations conducted by his colleagues from the aerodynamics department, with whom he tested various radii, inclinations, curvatures and transitions. By combining technical calculation and design intuition, they created a form that works well aerodynamically and at the same time appears aesthetically balanced. The result is a design that enables significant energy savings over the entire lifespan of the train and reduces noise levels during operation – a quiet, efficient and visually harmonious train that literally glides better through the air.

People at the center

The result impresses not only with its practicality, but also with its aesthetic excellence. The new front design will add a modern, future-oriented accent to Munich’s cityscape from 2028 – rolling proof that efficiency and elegance do not have to be opposites.

The power of interdisciplinary thinking

What sets Schiefer’s approach apart is his unusual combination of technical expertise and creative vision. His dual professional qualifications as a mechanical engineer and designer allow him to approach problems differently – namely in two steps. First, he develops ideas without considering technical feasibility, and only in the second step does he examine their practicality. “For innovation, it is crucial to look beyond the boundaries of your own discipline,” he emphasizes. This conviction is rooted in his formative years of study, during which he worked in various companies parallel to his studies – a strenuous but perspective-broadening time.

Back then, a professor gave him a piece of advice that shapes his work to this day: “At the beginning of a creative process, you must always imagine that anything is possible, and you must ask the right questions. Questions that don’t directly force your mind and imagination into a predetermined corset.” This attitude is reflected in Benno Schiefer’s metaphor: “If you ask what a new toaster could look like, all you’ll get is a new tin box with heating wires. But if you ask a more open-ended question, such as what novel ways are there to get crispy bread, your mind will be free to come up with completely new ideas.” He is driven by the rapid implementation of new solutions. “It fills me with the greatest joy when I see an idea directly in production and know that it works,” he says, describing the moment when a vision becomes tangible reality.

Technology with purpose

The numbers speak for themselves: The innovative S-Bahn design was a relevant factor in winning the Munich 2023 tender – a contract worth over €2 billion. But behind these impressive figures lies an even more important insight: Technology with purpose pays off. His invention is the best proof of how design, ingenuity and sustainability can be combined to create real added value in the everyday lives of millions. At a time when sustainable mobility is one of the central challenges facing society, the Munich S-Bahn project shows how innovation arises where human needs, technical excellence and corporate responsibility converge. And so the story of a train front becomes the vision of a future that is already taking shape today.