University of Wisconsin–Madison

Japan: Lauren Downham

Lauren and another student holding up finger-Ws in front of a model train station.
The 2024 Madison interns at the Maglev & Railway Park! You can see a model of Nagoya Station behind us.

Program: Japan Central Railways Internships, Summer

To explore international internship options available to UW-Madison undergraduate students, visit the Intern Abroad webpage or meet with an Intern Abroad advisor.

Lauren’s Major: Undeclared

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

Experiencing the Maglev simulator at the Maglev & Railway Park was one of the most memorable experiences from my program. We got to sit in a fake train car that simulated magnetically levitating transportation. The Maglev & Railway park is made to connect people to the SC Maglev and build excitement about its expansion along Japan’s main transport artery. Ironically enough, we later got stuck in traffic and missed our opportunity to ride on the real Maglev, but I still feel that the simulator gave us a glimpse into the future.

Seeing all the work and dedication that goes into train operations is truly inspiring to me. As I strive to foster international connections and high-speed rail in the United States, I’ll take that work ethic with me.

What is the moment you are most proud of?

At the end of the internship, we brainstormed applications of what we had learned to the implementation of high-speed rail in the United States. I was so proud to hear the other interns present wonderful ideas and to reminisce on all that we had experienced.

How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?

I got the opportunity to learn from a wide array of JRC’s departments, from hiring to rolling stock maintenance. This internship also included many site visits, where we got to see the processes we had learned about in action! At one point, we even boarded a boat to observe the implementation of technology in bridge repairs.

What is your advice for someone considering your program?

There are so many interesting things going on with trains in the U.S. right now. Future interns should keep up with train news and brush up on the basics of Japanese. Be open to new things and prepare to be on your feet!