CourseCivil, Rail & Smart Cities Applications open

BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) Systems Course in Cities

Online course of 300 hours in bus rapid transit (BRT) systems in cities, structured in 6 modules covering the BRT concept, corridor planning, infrastructure design, rolling stock and technology, and operation and management, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the attributes and quality standard of BRT systems.

02

Plan BRT corridors on the basis of demand models.

03

Design the infrastructure of running ways, stations and intersections.

04

Select rolling stock and operating technologies.

05

Manage operations, regularity and service quality.

06

Assess the economic, social and environmental viability of a BRT.

07

Develop the project for a BRT system for a city.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Public transport planners.
  • BRT systems engineers.
  • Bus operations technicians.
  • Urban mobility consultants.
  • Transport authority managers.
  • Transport demand analysts.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to move into public transport.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Regulation (EC) 1370/2007 (public passenger transport services by rail and road)
  • Law 16/1987, LOTT (Spanish Land Transport Act)
  • UNE-EN 13816 (public passenger transport service quality)
  • Regulation (EU) 181/2011 (bus and coach passenger rights)
  • Directive (EU) 2019/1161 (Clean Vehicles Directive)
  • Royal Decree 1544/2007 (accessibility of transport for people with disabilities)
  • UN ECE Regulation No. 107 (construction of buses and coaches)
  • Order TMA/851/2021 (accessibility of urbanised public spaces)
  • PTV Visum
  • Aimsun Next
  • Remix
  • QGIS
  • TransCAD
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Origins: Curitiba and Bogotá TransMilenio
  2. 1.2Essential attributes of a BRT
  3. 1.3BRT versus tram and light rail
  4. 1.4The ITDP BRT Standard
  5. 1.5Capacity and performance of BRT systems
  6. 1.6BRT in Europe: Metz, Nantes and Castellón
  7. 1.7Bus with a high level of service (BHLS)
  8. 1.8Benefits and criticisms
  9. 1.9Favourable urban conditions
  10. 1.10Case study: comparison of three BRT systems
  1. 2.1Demand analysis and origin-destination matrices
  2. 2.2Corridor selection
  3. 2.3Transport demand models
  4. 2.4Design of the trunk and feeder network
  5. 2.5Frequencies and required capacity
  6. 2.6Express services and limited-stop services
  7. 2.7Integration with other modes
  8. 2.8Impact on general traffic
  9. 2.9Social and environmental appraisal
  10. 2.10Lab: demand modelling for a corridor
  1. 3.1Dedicated running way and segregation
  2. 3.2Central or kerbside lane position
  3. 3.3Design of stations and platforms
  4. 3.4Level boarding and off-board fare collection
  5. 3.5Intersections and signal priority
  6. 3.6Terminals and interchanges
  7. 3.7Pavements for bus loads
  8. 3.8Universal accessibility of the system
  9. 3.9Urban and landscape integration
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: design of a BRT station
  1. 4.1Articulated and bi-articulated buses
  2. 4.2Electric buses and charging
  3. 4.3Optical and mechanical guidance
  4. 4.4Automatic vehicle location and operations support systems
  5. 4.5Real-time passenger information
  6. 4.6Ticketing and validation
  7. 4.7Conditional signal priority
  8. 4.8CCTV and security
  9. 4.9Data for planning
  10. 4.10Workshop: fleet electrification strategy
  1. 5.1Service scheduling and timetables
  2. 5.2Regularity and headway control
  3. 5.3Fleet and driver management
  4. 5.4Operating contract models
  5. 5.5Fares and fare integration
  6. 5.6Service quality according to UNE-EN 13816
  7. 5.7Infrastructure financing
  8. 5.8Fleet and infrastructure maintenance
  9. 5.9Performance indicators
  10. 5.10Case study: regularity analysis of a BRT line
  1. 6.1Selection of the city and corridor
  2. 6.2Demand analysis
  3. 6.3Operational definition of the service
  4. 6.4Infrastructure design
  5. 6.5Stations and accessibility
  6. 6.6Rolling stock and technology
  7. 6.7Economic and social appraisal
  8. 6.8Implementation plan
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training 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 alongside your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PTV Visum, Aimsun Next, Remix, QGIS and TransCAD, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: demand modelling for a BRT corridor, the design of a station with level boarding and the regularity analysis of a trunk line. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: Regulation (EC) 1370/2007, Law 16/1987 (LOTT), UNE-EN 13816, Regulation (EU) 181/2011, Directive (EU) 2019/1161, Royal Decree 1544/2007, UN ECE Regulation No. 107, Order TMA/851/2021.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Regulation (EC) 1370/2007, Law 16/1987 (LOTT) and UNE-EN 13816 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:PTV Visum, Aimsun Next, Remix, QGIS and TransCAD, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:the project for a BRT system for a city, from demand analysis to infrastructure, rolling stock and implementation plan, reviewed by your tutor.
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.

BRT system comparison
Compare three BRT systems against the ITDP BRT Standard.
Corridor demand model
Model travel demand for a candidate BRT corridor.
BRT station design
Design a BRT station with level boarding and universal accessibility.
Fleet electrification strategy
Define an electrification strategy for the BRT fleet.
Final project
Develop the project for a BRT system for a city, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Public transport plannerBRT systems engineerBus operations technicianUrban mobility consultantTransport authority managerTransport demand analyst
Admissions & scholarships

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.

FAQ

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 PTV Visum, Aimsun Next, Remix, QGIS and TransCAD, 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: just an internet connection, 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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