Master’s in Rolling Stock and Maintenance Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in rolling stock engineering and maintenance: 12 modules covering vehicle architecture, bogies and dynamics, traction, braking, on-board systems, vehicle safety, maintenance strategies, workshops, predictive maintenance, wheelsets and fleet management, 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
Describe the architecture and systems of rolling stock.
Analyse bogie dynamics and their acceptance.
Size traction and braking systems.
Apply safety and vehicle authorisation regulations.
Design maintenance strategies and plans using RCM.
Implement predictive maintenance with fleet data.
Manage fleets using availability and life cycle cost criteria.
Who it's for
- Rolling stock engineers looking to deepen their knowledge of vehicles and their maintenance.
- Railway maintenance engineers aiming to move into fleet engineering roles.
- Railway depot managers responsible for workshops and maintenance processes.
- Fleet reliability engineers working with availability and failure data.
- Traction and braking specialists seeking a whole-vehicle perspective.
- Predictive maintenance engineers applying data and condition monitoring to rail fleets.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the railway sector.
What you'll work with
- EN 14363 (running dynamics acceptance testing of railway vehicles)
- EN 15227 (crashworthiness of railway vehicle bodies)
- EN 45545-2 (fire protection of railway vehicles: material requirements)
- EN 13103-1 (design method for axles)
- EN 13979-1 (solid wheels: technical approval)
- EN 15085 (welding of railway vehicles and components)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/779 (Entities in Charge of Maintenance)
- Regulation (EU) No 1302/2014 (LOC&PAS TSI for locomotives and passenger rolling stock)
- Simpack
- MATLAB and Simulink
- IBM Maximo
- Python
- Ansys Mechanical
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Locomotives, railcars and multiple units1.2Articulated high-speed trains1.3Metro and tram vehicles1.4Freight wagons and typologies1.5Carbody structure and materials1.6Underframe equipment layout1.7Vehicle kinematic gauge1.8Technical procurement specification1.9Fleet life cycle1.10Case study: specification of a commuter train
2.1Motor and trailer bogies2.2Primary and secondary suspension2.3Wheelsets and wheels2.4Wheel profiles and equivalent conicity2.5Stability and critical speed2.6Bogie curving behaviour2.7Acceptance tests to EN 143632.8Variable-gauge bogies2.9Dynamic simulation of bogies2.10Lab: stability simulation in Simpack
3.1Complete electric traction chain3.2Main traction transformer3.3IGBT and silicon carbide converters3.4Asynchronous and permanent magnet motors3.5Vector control of traction motors3.6Tractive effort and adhesion3.7Auxiliary converters3.8Diesel-electric and bi-mode traction3.9Battery and hydrogen trains3.10Practical exercise: tractive effort-speed curve of an electric unit
4.1Automatic pneumatic brake4.2Disc and tread brakes4.3Regenerative and rheostatic electric brake4.4Magnetic track brake and eddy current brake4.5WSP wheel slide protection systems4.6Calculation of braking distances4.7Brake blending management4.8Brake requirements in the LOC&PAS TSI4.9On-track brake tests4.10Workshop: calculation of brake weight percentage
5.1TCMS train control and management system5.2Train communication networks5.3Passenger access door systems5.4Passenger and cab air conditioning5.5On-board passenger information5.6On-board CCTV video surveillance5.7Toilets and retention systems5.8On-board ETCS equipment5.9On-board diagnostics and data logging5.10Lab: analysis of TCMS data
6.1EN 15227 collision scenarios6.2Fire protection to EN 455456.3Functional safety of on-board systems6.4Passenger evacuation6.5On-board emergency lighting6.6Exterior noise according to the Noise TSI6.7Passenger ride comfort6.8Aerodynamic effects in tunnels6.9Vehicle authorisation in the EU6.10Case study: authorisation file for a train
7.1Mileage-based preventive maintenance7.2Condition-based railway maintenance7.3RCM analysis of train systems7.4Drawing up maintenance plans7.5Maintenance levels 1 to 57.6Heavy overhauls and mid-life refurbishments7.7Full-service maintenance contracts7.8Entity in Charge of Maintenance (ECM)7.9Reliability and availability indicators7.10Practical exercise: RCM plan for a door system
8.1Design of railway depots8.2Pits, platforms and overhead cranes8.3Underfloor wheel lathe and wheel reprofiling8.4Washing and cleaning facilities8.5Railway spare parts logistics8.6Workshop shift planning8.7Quality in maintenance8.8Safety in railway workshops8.9Workshop digitalisation8.10Workshop: layout of a commuter train depot
9.1On-board condition sensors9.2Wayside wheel and axle box detectors9.3Bearing and axle monitoring9.4Fleet data platforms9.5AI models for failure prediction9.6Digital twins of vehicles9.7Automatic inspection of underframes and pantographs9.8Integration with the management system9.9Return on investment of predictive maintenance9.10Lab: door failure prediction with Python
10.1Flange and tread wear10.2Wheel defects: flats and spalling10.3Non-destructive testing of axles10.4Axle fatigue to EN 1310310.5Solid wheels to EN 1397910.6Reprofiling strategies10.7Cracks in carbody and bogie structures10.8Weld repair to EN 1508510.9Traceability of wheelsets10.10Case study: analysis of an axle failure
11.1Fleet availability and allocation11.2Maintenance costs per kilometre11.3Component obsolescence management11.4Refurbishments and upgrades11.5Spares and repairables strategy11.6Reliability growth in new fleets11.7Fleet life cycle cost11.8Unavailability penalties11.9Fleet renewal planning11.10Practical exercise: LCC analysis of a mid-life refurbishment
12.1Definition of the study fleet12.2Vehicle architecture analysis12.3Reliability and failure analysis12.4Proposed maintenance plan12.5Design of workshop facilities12.6Predictive maintenance strategy12.7Life cycle cost analysis12.8Implementation plan for the model12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Simpack, MATLAB and Simulink, IBM Maximo, Python and Ansys Mechanical, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: failure data analysis from real fleets, dynamic simulation of bogies and RCM-based maintenance plans. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: EN 14363, EN 15227, EN 45545-2, EN 13103-1, EN 13979-1, EN 15085, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/779, Regulation (EU) No 1302/2014 (LOC&PAS TSI).
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, MATLAB and Simulink, IBM Maximo, Python and Ansys Mechanical, 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 university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent professional experience, plus 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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