N+P Innovation Design’s Christiane Bausback on innovating the rail passenger experience
07/08/2025
As CEO of N+P Innovation Design, Christiane Bausback is on a mission to redefine how we experience rail travel.
Speaking ahead of her upcoming session at the Rail Interiors Show, Bausback shared how design can drive meaningful innovation in rail, beyond aesthetics and into the heart of the passenger journey.
“Design is so much more than just the lipstick on a pig,” Bausback said. “It’s about solving problems, questioning norms, and putting puzzle pieces together in a new way to create value – for people, not just for technology.”
With offices in Munich, Vienna, and Atlanta, N+P Innovation Design is a strategic consultancy that works across mobility, healthcare, and industry. But it's rail where Bausback sees enormous opportunity and challenge.
When asked what sparked her passion for improving the passenger experience, she explained: “There’s so much room for improvement in rail. We draw inspiration from other industries like hospitality, aviation, and even nature. It’s about finding moments – whether it’s onboarding in a hotel or airport navigation – that could be translated into better rail travel.”
Bausback doesn’t shy away from the hurdles the industry faces. “Money, certifications, legacy supply chains, these are big limitations,” she said. “But change is happening. The supply chain is opening up, there's more agility, and more awareness of the need to innovate.”
So, where should innovation focus? For Bausback, it starts with comfort, accessibility, and digital trust. “Comfort leads to trust. But you also have to look at passengers’ diverse needs. Are they traveling alone or in groups? Are they elderly or disabled? Innovation must address all of these.”
She also stressed the need for seamless, door-to-door travel, integrating rail into a broader ecosystem. “The journey shouldn’t end at the platform. It’s about convenience, confidence, and connectivity.”
At the show, Bausback will draw from diverse case studies, from night trains to commuter solutions, to show how rethinking design can unlock powerful results. Her hope? That attendees walk away inspired and empowered.
“Yes, it’s tough. But yes, we can do it. We need to collaborate across sectors to make public mobility a true experience, not just a means of getting from A to B.”
Session: Unlocking the future of rail: innovation as the key driver for enhancing the passenger experience
Date: 24 November 2025
Time: 10:45 - 11:10
“Design is so much more than just the lipstick on a pig,” Bausback said. “It’s about solving problems, questioning norms, and putting puzzle pieces together in a new way to create value – for people, not just for technology.”
With offices in Munich, Vienna, and Atlanta, N+P Innovation Design is a strategic consultancy that works across mobility, healthcare, and industry. But it's rail where Bausback sees enormous opportunity and challenge.
When asked what sparked her passion for improving the passenger experience, she explained: “There’s so much room for improvement in rail. We draw inspiration from other industries like hospitality, aviation, and even nature. It’s about finding moments – whether it’s onboarding in a hotel or airport navigation – that could be translated into better rail travel.”
Bausback doesn’t shy away from the hurdles the industry faces. “Money, certifications, legacy supply chains, these are big limitations,” she said. “But change is happening. The supply chain is opening up, there's more agility, and more awareness of the need to innovate.”
So, where should innovation focus? For Bausback, it starts with comfort, accessibility, and digital trust. “Comfort leads to trust. But you also have to look at passengers’ diverse needs. Are they traveling alone or in groups? Are they elderly or disabled? Innovation must address all of these.”
She also stressed the need for seamless, door-to-door travel, integrating rail into a broader ecosystem. “The journey shouldn’t end at the platform. It’s about convenience, confidence, and connectivity.”
At the show, Bausback will draw from diverse case studies, from night trains to commuter solutions, to show how rethinking design can unlock powerful results. Her hope? That attendees walk away inspired and empowered.
“Yes, it’s tough. But yes, we can do it. We need to collaborate across sectors to make public mobility a true experience, not just a means of getting from A to B.”
Session: Unlocking the future of rail: innovation as the key driver for enhancing the passenger experience
Date: 24 November 2025
Time: 10:45 - 11:10