Alternating Current Railway Electrification Course
Online course of 300 hours in AC railway electrification, structured in 6 modules covering AC traction systems, substations, high-speed overhead contact lines, electromagnetic compatibility and energy simulation under UNE-EN 50163, Regulation (EU) 1301/2014 and UNE-EN 50119, 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
Understand alternating-current traction systems.
Design traction substations and autotransformer stations.
Analyse the high-speed overhead contact line and its interaction with the pantograph.
Assess electromagnetic compatibility and electrical safety.
Simulate the energy behaviour of a railway line.
Manage the operation and maintenance of the system.
Design the AC electrification of a railway line.
Who it's for
- Railway electrification engineers moving into 25 kV high-speed systems.
- High-voltage engineers who want to apply their expertise to railway traction.
- Overhead contact line engineers working on high-speed lines.
- Electromagnetic compatibility specialists in the rail sector.
- Energy maintenance managers on railway networks.
- Consultants in railway electrical systems.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the high-speed rail sector.
What you'll work with
- UNE-EN 50163 (railway applications: supply voltages of traction systems)
- Regulation (EU) 1301/2014 (Energy TSI)
- UNE-EN 50119 (overhead contact lines for electric traction)
- UNE-EN 50367 (pantograph–overhead contact line interaction)
- UNE-EN 50318 (validation of simulation of dynamic pantograph–catenary interaction)
- UNE-EN 50122-1 (protective provisions for electrical safety and earthing)
- UNE-EN 50388-1 (power supply and rolling stock coordination)
- UNE-EN 50121 (electromagnetic compatibility in railway applications)
- OpenPowerNet
- DIgSILENT PowerFactory
- ELBAS
- MATLAB/Simulink
- PCaDA
6 modules
1.125 kV and 15 kV systems1.2High-speed rail and AC electrification1.31×25 kV and 2×25 kV systems1.4Autotransformers and how they work1.5Interface with the electricity transmission grid1.6Phase imbalances and their compensation1.7Harmonics and resonances1.8Neutral sections and separation sections1.9Comparison with DC systems1.10Case study: power supply of the Madrid–Seville line
2.1Single-phase substation layouts2.2Traction transformers2.3High-voltage switchgear2.4Distance and overcurrent protection2.5Autotransformer stations2.6Sectioning and paralleling posts2.7Static compensators and STATCOM2.8Remote control and SCADA2.9Location and spacing of substations2.10Practical exercise: single-line diagram of a 2×25 kV substation
3.1Tensioned catenaries for high speed3.2Mechanical tension and wave propagation speed3.3Current collection quality3.4Pantograph–catenary interaction and simulation3.5Negative feeder and return conductor3.6Insulators and disconnectors3.7Catenary in tunnels and on viaducts3.8Installation and adjustment3.9Measurement of catenary geometry3.10Lab: pantograph–catenary simulation
4.1Induced voltages in parallel conductors4.2Interference with signalling and communications4.3Earthing and equipotential bonding4.4Touch and step voltages4.5Protection of people in the track environment4.6Insulation coordination4.7Protection against lightning overvoltages4.8Electromagnetic compatibility studies4.9Verification tests4.10Case study: induced-voltage study on a line
5.1Simulation of the traction system5.2Power calculation and sizing5.3Regenerative braking in AC5.4Power quality and imbalances5.5Interconnection with the power grid5.6Maintenance of substations and catenary5.7Management of electrical incidents5.8Availability indicators5.9Energy efficiency of the system5.10Workshop: load simulation of a high-speed line
6.1Definition of the line and traffic6.2Choice of 1×25 or 2×25 kV system6.3Location of substations and autotransformers6.4Catenary design6.5Electromagnetic compatibility study6.6Electrical simulation of the line6.7Maintenance plan6.8Electrification budget6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The course is delivered 100% online 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 each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is OpenPowerNet, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, ELBAS, MATLAB/Simulink and PCaDA, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for high-speed substation design, electromagnetic compatibility studies and current-collection simulation. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: UNE-EN 50163, Regulation (EU) 1301/2014 (Energy TSI), UNE-EN 50119, UNE-EN 50367, UNE-EN 50318, UNE-EN 50122-1, UNE-EN 50388-1, UNE-EN 50121.
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 prior 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 programme 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 work with OpenPowerNet, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, ELBAS, MATLAB/Simulink, PCaDA, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever 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 prior qualification is required: you only need a computer able to run 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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