Diploma in Urban CBTC and Interlockings
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in urban CBTC and interlockings. 8 modules covering urban signalling, CBTC architecture, interlockings, communications, RAMS and cybersecurity, operation, and testing and migration to IEEE 1474.1 and IEC 62290, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Urban CBTC and Interlockings — studying from Australia
Australia's infrastructure pipeline is substantial, covering roads, rail, ports, water and urban development across major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Rail engineering is especially active, with projects including Sydney Metro and Melbourne Metro. Smart city initiatives draw on sensors, data platforms and digital twins to improve transport, utilities and public services. Employers include state transport authorities, engineering consultancies such as Aurecon and WSP, and major contractors. Engineers work on design, asset management, construction oversight and sustainability.
Fees for Australia: A$1,740 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Does a SEIUM qualification meet Australian civil engineering registration requirements?
No. Civil engineers in Australia typically need an Engineers Australia accredited degree to pursue Chartered status, and state and territory rail and infrastructure regulators set their own requirements. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by these bodies, so employers or regulators decide how much weight they carry.
Which Australian employers hire in civil, rail and smart cities?
Australia has public infrastructure agencies, rail operators, engineering consultancies and councils working on urban and smart city projects. Employers usually prioritise accredited qualifications, licensing and project experience. Ask potential employers whether a private online qualification would be considered alongside your experience.
Is the course workable alongside work, and what does it cost?
The courses are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere in Australia without a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's 1,900, so plan your time accordingly. Fees are payable in instalments, employer sponsorship may be possible, and you will have 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
Describe the evolution of urban signalling.
Analyse the architecture of a CBTC system.
Design interlocking logic.
Specify robust train-to-wayside communications.
Apply RAMS and cybersecurity to the system.
Plan operation and degraded modes.
Plan testing, migration and commissioning.
Who it's for
- CBTC signalling engineers
- Interlocking engineers
- RAMS engineers
- Testing and commissioning engineers
- Railway communications specialists
- Metro operations managers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into metro systems
What you'll work with
- IEEE 1474.1 (CBTC performance and functional requirements)
- IEC 62290-1 (urban guided transport management and command/control systems – principles)
- IEC 62290-2 (urban guided transport – functional requirements specification)
- EN 50129 (safety-related electronic systems for signalling)
- EN 50159 (safety-related communication in transmission systems)
- EN 50716 (railway software development)
- IEC 62443-3-3 (industrial cybersecurity – system security requirements)
- OpenTrack
- RailSys
- SCADE Suite
- MATLAB Simulink
- Wireshark
8 modules
1.1Evolution of metro signalling1.2Fixed block and track circuits1.3Automatic train protection (ATP)1.4Automatic train operation (ATO)1.5Automatic train supervision (ATS)1.6Grades of automation (GoA)1.7Driverless automatic metros1.8Capacity and headway1.9CBTC market and suppliers1.10Case study: automation of Paris Line 1
2.1Wayside subsystem and zone controller2.2On-board subsystem2.3Train-to-wayside communications2.4Train location2.5Balises and odometry2.6Moving block and braking distance2.7Movement authority2.8Secondary detection systems2.9Interoperability between suppliers2.10Lab: moving block simulation
3.1Interlocking functions3.2Relay interlockings3.3Electronic interlockings3.4Route and interlocking tables3.5Routes, locking and release3.6Application data3.7Interface with CBTC3.8Local and central control3.9Logic validation3.10Practical: interlocking table for a terminal station
4.1WLAN radio in tunnels4.2LTE and 5G for railways4.3Network redundancy4.4Quality of service and latency4.5Safety-related communications4.6Network cybersecurity4.7Segmentation and zones4.8Handover management4.9Coverage testing4.10Lab: analysis of radio coverage in a tunnel
5.1RAMS life cycle5.2CBTC hazard analysis5.3SIL4 functions5.4Safety software5.5Safety case5.6Independent assessment5.7Railway cybersecurity5.8Availability and degraded modes5.9Obsolescence management5.10Workshop: hazard analysis of an ATP function
6.1Operations control centre6.2Headway regulation6.3Incident management6.4Platform screen doors6.5Integration with SCADA6.6Energy-efficient driving6.7Passenger information6.8Degraded operating modes6.9Staff training6.10Case study: managing a failure at peak hour
7.1Factory testing7.2Laboratory integration testing7.3Dynamic track testing7.4Night-time testing on lines in service7.5Migration of legacy systems7.6Coexistence of equipped and unequipped fleets7.7Phased commissioning7.8Acceptance by the authority7.9Lessons from international migrations7.10Case study: migration plan for an existing line
8.1Line description8.2Capacity requirements8.3Grade of automation8.4CBTC architecture8.5Interlocking design8.6RAMS analysis8.7Test and migration plan8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final 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 each intake, so it fits around your work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is OpenTrack, RailSys, SCADE Suite, MATLAB Simulink and Wireshark, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for capacity simulation with moving block, night-time dynamic testing and validation of interlocking tables. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: IEEE 1474.1, IEC 62290-1, IEC 62290-2, EN 50129, EN 50159, EN 50716, IEC 62443-3-3.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with OpenTrack, RailSys, SCADE Suite, MATLAB Simulink, Wireshark, 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 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.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), plus an internet connection, a suitable computer 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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