Master’s in Track and Superstructure Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in railway track and superstructure engineering. 12 modules covering the railway track, rail and welding, sleepers and fastenings, ballast and formation, slab track, switches and crossings, vehicle-track dynamics, geometry and inspection, track construction, maintenance and noise and vibration, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this programme. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain the structural behaviour of the railway track.
Select rail, sleepers, fastenings and ballast to suit the line.
Design formations, transitions and slab track.
Specify switches and crossings for different speeds.
Analyse vehicle-track dynamics and wear.
Interpret track inspection data and plan maintenance.
Mitigate railway noise and vibration.
Who it's for
- Track engineers.
- Railway infrastructure maintenance engineers.
- Switches and crossings specialists.
- Track inspection technicians.
- Railway construction engineers.
- Railway dynamics consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to move into the railway sector.
What you'll work with
- EN 13674-1 (railway rails: Vignole rails of 46 kg/m and above)
- EN 13230 (concrete sleepers and bearers)
- EN 13146 (test methods for fastening systems)
- EN 13450 (aggregates for railway ballast)
- EN 13848 (track geometry quality)
- EN 16432 (ballastless track systems)
- Regulation (EU) No 1299/2014 (INF TSI) (technical specification for interoperability: infrastructure)
- EN 14363 (testing and simulation for running characteristics of railway vehicles)
- Simpack
- Autodesk Civil 3D
- VAMPIRE
- Ansys Mechanical
- MATLAB
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Structural functions of the track1.2Elements of ballasted track1.3Types of slab track1.4Track gauges and their history1.5Loads transmitted by the train1.6Wheel-rail interaction1.7Vertical track stiffness1.8Adif technical standards1.9Service life of components1.10Case study: comparison of ballasted and slab track
2.154E1 and 60E1 rail profiles2.2Rail steel grades2.3Aluminothermic welding of rails2.4Flash butt welding2.5Continuous welded rail2.6Thermal stresses and stress-free temperature2.7Rail defects and rolling contact fatigue2.8Ultrasonic inspection2.9Preventive grinding and reprofiling2.10Lab: stress-free temperature calculation for continuous welded rail
3.1Monoblock concrete sleepers3.2Timber and synthetic sleepers3.3Dual-gauge sleepers for gauge changeover3.4Elastic rail fastenings3.5Rail pads and stiffness3.6Electrical insulation of the fastening3.7Overall elasticity of the track panel3.8Testing of fastenings according to EN 131463.9Selecting fastenings by line type3.10Practical exercise: fastening selection for high-speed rail
4.1Ballast requirements according to EN 134504.2Grading and Los Angeles abrasion4.3Ballast degradation and fouling4.4Capping layer and sub-ballast4.5Bearing capacity of the formation4.6Formation stiffness4.7Geosynthetics in railway formations4.8Longitudinal formation drainage4.9Transition wedges4.10Workshop: sizing of trackbed layers
5.1Slab track systems5.2The Rheda 2000 system5.3Track on elastic blocks5.4Embedded rail for tramways5.5Anti-vibration mass-spring systems5.6Slab track in metro tunnels5.7Structural design of the slab5.8Construction and tolerances5.9Maintenance and repairs5.10Case study: slab track in a high-speed tunnel
6.1Types of turnouts6.2Geometry and speed on the diverging track6.3Fixed and swing-nose crossings6.4Switch rails and stock rails6.5Point machines and heaters6.6Crossovers and scissors crossovers6.7Diamond crossings6.8High-speed turnouts6.9Maintenance of switches and crossings6.10Lab: turnout geometry in Civil 3D
7.1Vehicle-track dynamic models7.2Wheel-rail contact mechanics7.3Dynamic forces due to defects7.4Bogie stability and hunting7.5Nadal derailment criteria7.6Wheel and rail wear7.7Rail corrugation7.8Multibody simulation with Simpack7.9Effect of isolated defects7.10Practical exercise: simulation of a weld defect
8.1Track geometry parameters8.2Geometric quality according to EN 138488.3Track recording cars and dynamic measurement8.4Alert and intervention limits8.5Analysis of inspection data series8.6Prediction of geometric degradation8.7Manual track measurement8.8Inspection using in-service vehicles8.9Quality indicators by section8.10Case study: prioritising tamping based on geometry
9.1Track laying methods9.2Heavy track machinery9.3Laying of rails and sleepers9.4On-site rail welding9.5Dynamic track stabilisation9.6Acceptance of new track9.7Track renewal under traffic9.8Track possessions and windows9.9Logistics of track materials9.10Workshop: track renewal plan during night possessions
10.1Track maintenance strategies10.2Tamping and levelling10.3Ballast regulating10.4Ballast cleaning and renewal10.5Replacement of rails and sleepers10.6Visual track inspection10.7Condition-based track maintenance10.8Life-cycle cost of the track10.9Track maintenance management10.10Lab: track life-cycle cost model
11.1Railway rolling noise11.2Ground-borne vibration11.3Track-based mitigation measures11.4Under-ballast elastomeric mats11.5Railway noise barriers11.6Vibration in urban metros11.7Railway noise regulations11.8Rail roughness measurement11.9Simulation of vibration in buildings11.10Case study: vibration mitigation beneath a hospital
12.1Definition of the track section12.2Operating requirements and loads12.3Selection of the superstructure type12.4Design of trackbed layers12.5Design of switches and crossings12.6Vehicle-track dynamic analysis12.7Construction and logistics plan12.8Maintenance plan and costs12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
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 Simpack, Autodesk Civil 3D, VAMPIRE, Ansys Mechanical and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: analysis of real track inspection data, vehicle-track dynamic simulation and track component testing procedures. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: EN 13674-1, EN 13230, EN 13146, EN 13450, EN 13848, EN 16432, Regulation (EU) No 1299/2014 (INF TSI), EN 14363.
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
- 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.
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 Simpack, Autodesk Civil 3D, VAMPIRE, Ansys Mechanical and MATLAB, 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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