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Master’s in Railway Electrification Engineering and Traction Substations

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in railway electrification and traction substation engineering. 12 modules covering electrification systems, overhead contact lines, pantograph-catenary interaction, AC and DC traction substations, electrical simulation, return circuits and stray currents, EMC, energy efficiency, construction and maintenance, and standards and projects, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Select the appropriate electrification system for each line.

02

Design flexible and rigid overhead contact lines.

03

Assess pantograph-catenary interaction.

04

Size AC and DC traction substations.

05

Electrically simulate operations and their contingencies.

06

Control return circuits, earthing, stray currents and EMC.

07

Improve the energy efficiency of railway traction.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Railway electrification engineers.
  • Traction substation engineers.
  • Catenary specialists.
  • Energy simulation engineers.
  • Electromagnetic compatibility engineers.
  • Electrical installation maintenance managers.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to move into the railway sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • EN 50163 (supply voltages of traction systems)
  • EN 50388-1 (power supply and rolling stock technical coordination)
  • EN 50119 (overhead contact lines for electric traction)
  • EN 50122-1 (electrical safety, earthing and the return circuit)
  • EN 50121 series (railway electromagnetic compatibility)
  • EN 50367 (pantograph-overhead line interaction criteria)
  • EN 50318 (validation of simulation of pantograph-overhead line dynamic interaction)
  • Regulation (EU) No 1301/2014 (ENE TSI) (technical specification for interoperability: energy)
  • OpenPowerNet
  • DIgSILENT PowerFactory
  • ETAP
  • MATLAB/Simulink
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Direct current from 600 V to 3 kV
  2. 1.225 kV 50 Hz alternating current
  3. 1.315 kV 16.7 Hz systems
  4. 1.42x25 kV system with autotransformers
  5. 1.5Choosing the system by line type
  6. 1.6Railway electrification in Spain
  7. 1.7Energy interoperability: the ENE TSI
  8. 1.8Regenerative braking and receptivity
  9. 1.9Partial electrification and battery trains
  10. 1.10Case study: comparison of systems for a regional line
  1. 2.1Flexible catenary configuration
  2. 2.2Contact wire and its wear
  3. 2.3Messenger wire and droppers
  4. 2.4Cantilevers and registration arms
  5. 2.5Mechanical tensioning and compensation
  6. 2.6Catenary masts and foundations
  7. 2.7Section insulators and neutral sections
  8. 2.8Rigid overhead conductor rail in tunnels
  9. 2.9High-speed catenary
  10. 2.10Lab: catenary layout on a curve
  1. 3.1Types of railway pantographs
  2. 3.2Mean contact force and standard deviation
  3. 3.3Dynamics of the interaction
  4. 3.4Simulation according to EN 50318
  5. 3.5Electric arcing and loss of contact
  6. 3.6Wear of contact strips and wire
  7. 3.7Compatibility according to EN 50367
  8. 3.8On-line interaction measurement
  9. 3.9Multiple pantographs and spacing
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: interaction simulation at 300 km/h
  1. 4.1Connection to the transmission grid
  2. 4.2Traction transformers
  3. 4.3High-voltage switchgear
  4. 4.4Substation protection
  5. 4.5Phase unbalance on the grid
  6. 4.6Harmonics and power quality
  7. 4.7Autotransformer stations
  8. 4.8Substation earthing
  9. 4.9Remote control and SCADA
  10. 4.10Workshop: single-line diagram of a 2x25 kV substation
  1. 5.1Traction transformer-rectifier units
  2. 5.212-pulse rectifiers and harmonics
  3. 5.3Reversible substations with inverters
  4. 5.4High-speed DC circuit breakers
  5. 5.5Feeders and disconnectors
  6. 5.6Short circuits in DC systems
  7. 5.7Rail return in DC systems
  8. 5.8Traction substations in metros
  9. 5.9Power supply for tram networks
  10. 5.10Case study: reversible substation on a metro line
  1. 6.1Electrical models of lines
  2. 6.2Load flow with moving trains
  3. 6.3Voltage drops and useful voltage
  4. 6.4Sizing of substations
  5. 6.5Energy consumption of operations
  6. 6.6Thermal overloads of conductors
  7. 6.7N-1 contingency scenarios
  8. 6.8Simulation tools such as OpenPowerNet
  9. 6.9Validation with real measurements
  10. 6.10Lab: simulation of a 2x25 kV line
  1. 7.1Traction return circuit
  2. 7.2Accessible touch voltages
  3. 7.3Protection according to EN 50122-1
  4. 7.4Stray currents in DC systems
  5. 7.5Corrosion of buried structures
  6. 7.6Drainage and protection diodes
  7. 7.7Measurement of stray currents
  8. 7.8Earthing design
  9. 7.9Interference with affected utilities
  10. 7.10Practical exercise: touch voltage assessment at a station
  1. 8.1Railway electromagnetic compatibility
  2. 8.2The EN 50121 series of standards
  3. 8.3Interference with track circuits
  4. 8.4Harmonics from rolling stock
  5. 8.5Electromagnetic fields and exposure
  6. 8.6Interference with telecommunications
  7. 8.7Emission and immunity testing
  8. 8.8Electromagnetic mitigation measures
  9. 8.9Project EMC control plan
  10. 8.10Case study: traction interference with a track circuit
  1. 9.1Making use of regenerative braking
  2. 9.2Wayside and on-board storage
  3. 9.3Eco-driving and ATO
  4. 9.4On-board energy measurement according to EN 50463
  5. 9.5Procurement of traction energy
  6. 9.6Integration of renewables into traction
  7. 9.7Battery trains and charging
  8. 9.8Hydrogen trains and their supply
  9. 9.9Operational energy indicators
  10. 9.10Workshop: estimating savings from energy storage
  1. 10.1Installation of catenary on site
  2. 10.2Electrification machinery
  3. 10.3Testing and acceptance of catenary
  4. 10.4Energisation of installations
  5. 10.5Preventive maintenance of catenary
  6. 10.6Inspection with recording vehicles
  7. 10.7Thermography of substations
  8. 10.8Safety in electrical work
  9. 10.9Isolations and lockout procedures
  10. 10.10Lab: maintenance plan for a substation
  1. 11.1Requirements of the energy TSI
  2. 11.2Supply voltages according to EN 50163
  3. 11.3Technical coordination according to EN 50388
  4. 11.4Catenary design according to EN 50119
  5. 11.5Phases of an electrification project
  6. 11.6EC verification of subsystems
  7. 11.7Environmental impact of electrification
  8. 11.8Electrification costs per kilometre
  9. 11.9Tender specifications and procurement for electrification
  10. 11.10Practical exercise: preliminary electrification design for a line
  1. 12.1Definition of the line to be electrified
  2. 12.2Selection of the electrical system
  3. 12.3Design of the overhead contact line
  4. 12.4Electrical simulation of operations
  5. 12.5Design of traction substations
  6. 12.6Return circuit, earthing and compatibility
  7. 12.7Energy efficiency strategy
  8. 12.8Budget and construction phasing
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. You work with OpenPowerNet, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, ETAP and MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: electrical simulation of lines with real traffic, measurement of pantograph-catenary interaction, and assessment of touch voltages and stray currents. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: EN 50163, EN 50388-1, EN 50119, EN 50122-1, EN 50121 series, EN 50367, EN 50318, Regulation (EU) No 1301/2014 (ENE TSI).

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of EN 50163, EN 50388-1, EN 50119 and EN 50122-1 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:OpenPowerNet, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, ETAP and MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete electrification project for a railway line, from system selection and catenary design to electrical simulation, traction substations, return circuit and energy efficiency strategy, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

System selection
Define the line to be electrified and select the electrical system.
Contact line design
Design the overhead contact line for the line's speed and layout.
Simulation and substations
Simulate operations electrically and size the traction substations.
Return and efficiency
Design the return circuit and earthing and define the energy efficiency strategy.
Master's Thesis
Prepare the budget and phasing and integrate everything into a final report, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Railway electrification engineerTraction substation engineerCatenary specialistEnergy simulation engineerElectromagnetic compatibility engineerElectrical installation maintenance manager
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's 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.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with OpenPowerNet, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, ETAP and MATLAB/Simulink, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the 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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