Course in Railway Bridge Design Criteria
Online course of 300 hours in railway bridge design criteria, with 6 modules covering bridge types, load models under EN 1991-2, high-speed dynamic analysis, track-structure interaction, fatigue and durability, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Select bridge types suited to railway traffic.
Apply railway load models and their dynamic factors.
Carry out dynamic analyses of high-speed bridges with real trains and HSLM.
Verify deformations, deck accelerations and passenger comfort.
Calculate track-structure interaction and rail stresses.
Design elements against fatigue and check their durability.
Develop the preliminary design of a railway bridge.
Who it's for
- Railway bridge engineers who want to specialise in railway bridge design criteria.
- High-speed dynamics specialists who want to specialise in railway bridge design criteria.
- Railway structures designers who want to specialise in railway bridge design criteria.
- Track and track-structure interaction engineers who want to specialise in railway bridge design criteria.
- Load testing technicians who want to specialise in railway bridge design criteria.
- Durability and fatigue consultants who want to specialise in railway bridge design criteria.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into railway infrastructure.
What you'll work with
- EN 1991-2 (railway traffic loads: LM71, SW/0, SW/2)
- EN 1990 Annex A2 (limit states of bridges)
- IAPF-07 (actions on railway bridges)
- UIC 774-3 (track-deck interaction)
- EN 1993-1-9 (fatigue in steel)
- EN 1992-2 (concrete bridges)
- EN 1994-2 (composite bridges)
- SOFiSTiK
- MIDAS Civil
- ANSYS Mechanical
- LUSAS Bridge
- MATLAB
6 modules
1.1Evolution of railway bridges1.2Types: slab, girder, arch, truss and cable-stayed1.3Ballasted decks versus slab track1.4Track-structure interaction: basic concepts1.5Differences from road bridges1.6Materials: prestressed concrete, steel and composite sections1.7Alignment and clearance constraints1.8Bearings and expansion joints1.9Operation and maintenance requirements1.10Case study: analysis of a high-speed viaduct
2.1LM71 load model according to EN 1991-22.2SW/0 and SW/2 models for heavy loads2.3Classification factor α2.4Dynamic factors Φ2 and Φ32.5Braking and traction forces2.6Centrifugal force and nosing effect2.7Wind and aerodynamic effects of passing trains2.8Thermal actions on deck and rail2.9Combinations of actions according to EN 1990 Annex A22.10Workshop: calculating force envelopes with LM71
3.1Resonance phenomena in railway bridges3.2Criteria requiring dynamic analysis3.3HSLM-A and HSLM-B universal trains3.4Time integration of moving loads3.5Damping and mass in the model3.6Maximum deck acceleration with ballasted track3.7Vehicle-structure interaction3.8Passenger comfort and vertical acceleration3.9Finite element modelling3.10Laboratory: dynamic analysis of a simply supported deck
4.1Deck deflection limits4.2Deck twist and derailment risk4.3Rotations at deck ends4.4Longitudinal and transverse displacements4.5Additional stresses in continuous welded rail4.6Rail expansion devices4.7Stiffness of bearings, piers and abutments4.8Non-linear interaction models according to UIC 774-34.9Natural frequency of transverse vibration4.10Practical: verifying deformation limit states
5.1ULS bending and shear in prestressed decks5.2Fatigue in steel according to EN 1993-1-95.3Fatigue in concrete and passive reinforcement5.4Railway traffic spectra for fatigue5.5The λ-coefficient method5.6Design of piers and foundations5.7Seismic behaviour according to EN 1998-25.8Durability and reinforcement cover5.9Inspectability and maintenance from the design stage5.10Case study: fatigue check of a composite deck
6.1Defining the site and constraints6.2Selecting the bridge type and span arrangement6.3Preliminary sizing of the deck6.4Structural model and railway loads6.5Dynamic analysis and acceleration verification6.6Deformations and track-structure interaction6.7Design of critical sections6.8General drawings and inspection plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SOFiSTiK, MIDAS Civil, ANSYS Mechanical, LUSAS Bridge and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for dynamic analysis with HSLM trains, static and dynamic load testing of bridges and track-structure interaction studies. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: EN 1991-2, EN 1990 Annex A2, IAPF-07, UIC 774-3, EN 1993-1-9, EN 1992-2, EN 1994-2.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No previous qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The course totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You will work with SOFiSTiK, MIDAS Civil, ANSYS Mechanical, LUSAS Bridge and MATLAB. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and your tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No previous qualification is required. You need an internet connection, a computer capable of running the programme software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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