Course on Operations in Railway Control Centers
Online course of 300 hours in railway control centre operations, structured in 6 modules covering control centre functions and systems, traffic management, incident and emergency management and human factors under Royal Decree 664/2015, ISO 11064 and Regulation (EU) 2019/773, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course on Operations in Railway Control Centers — studying from Malta
Malta's civil engineering sector is active, driven by ongoing construction, infrastructure upgrades, coastal works and urban regeneration projects across the islands. Demand for civil engineers is closely linked to public works, land development and the modernisation of transport networks. Smart city initiatives, including digital mapping, traffic management and sustainable urban planning, are increasingly relevant. Engineers typically find employment with contractors, consultancies, government departments and utility providers managing infrastructure in a densely populated environment.
Fees for Malta: €448 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which Maltese bodies regulate civil engineering and related professional practice?
The Chamber of Engineers (KSU) regulates the use of the title 'engineer' in Malta under the Engineering Profession Act. Planning and development matters fall under the Planning Authority, and public works and transport infrastructure involve government agencies including Transport Malta. A SEIUM qualification does not itself grant a regulated title; recognition is decided by employers or the relevant body.
What employers in Malta would value civil, rail or smart city engineering skills?
Malta's construction, infrastructure, consultancy and public sector firms are the main employers, along with transport and utilities bodies. Smart city and digital infrastructure work is growing in some areas. Employers typically look for chartered-level experience and licensing, so a private qualification should be seen as supporting your professional development rather than a substitute for those requirements.
How can I study this while working on site, and what support is there?
The programme is delivered entirely online in English, so you can study from anywhere in Malta without a student visa. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, and the course ends with a final project. Time commitment depends on the programme length, from 300 to 1,900 hours. Ask about instalment payments and employer sponsorship to help manage costs.
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 the functions of a railway control centre.
Become familiar with the technical systems integrated in a control post.
Manage train traffic under normal conditions.
Respond to incidents and emergencies with appropriate protocols.
Apply human factors principles to workstation design.
Organise shifts, training and service quality.
Design the organisation of a railway control centre.
Who it's for
- Control centre operators.
- Traffic controllers.
- Traffic control systems engineers.
- Control room supervisors.
- Human factors specialists.
- Capacity planners.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter railway infrastructure.
What you'll work with
- Royal Decree 664/2015 (Spanish Railway Traffic Regulations)
- ISO 11064 (ergonomic design of control centres)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/773 (Operation and Traffic Management TSI)
- Directive (EU) 2016/798 (railway safety)
- UNE-EN 50126-1 (railway applications: RAMS)
- IEC 62443 (security for industrial automation and control systems)
- Law 38/2015 (Spanish Railway Sector Act)
- OpenTrack
- RailSys
- Siemens Controlguide
- Microsoft Power BI
- Microsoft Visio
6 modules
1.1Functions of the control centre1.2Evolution of the control post1.3Adif Regulation and Control Centres1.4Operator workstations and video wall1.5Centralised traffic control1.6Remote control of power and installations1.7Metro control centres1.8Communication with drivers and stations1.9Shift organisation1.10Case study: a high-speed control centre
2.1Traffic management systems2.2Remote control of interlockings2.3Interfaces with ERTMS and RBC2.4Power SCADA2.5Passenger information systems2.6GSM-R communications and telephony2.7CCTV of stations and trains2.8Redundancy and back-up centres2.9Cybersecurity of the centre2.10Lab: simulation of operations at a control post
3.1Train graph and timetables3.2Setting routes3.3Managing crossings and overtaking3.4Track works and line closures3.5Temporary speed restrictions3.6Traffic priorities3.7Managing freight and passenger traffic3.8Incident logging3.9Service quality and punctuality3.10Practical exercise: managing a crossing on single track
4.1Classification of incidents4.2Infrastructure and train failures4.3Contingency plans4.4Passenger transfers and alternative services4.5Emergencies in tunnels4.6Coordination with emergency services4.7Communication with passengers4.8Recovery protocols4.9Post-incident analysis4.10Case study: simulation of an overhead line failure
5.1Operator workload5.2Operator situational awareness5.3Ergonomic workstation design5.4Human-machine interface design5.5Human error and its prevention5.6Standardised communication and phraseology5.7Training and simulators5.8Fatigue and shift work5.9Safety culture5.10Workshop: ergonomic analysis of an operator workstation
6.1Definition of the network to be controlled6.2Functions and organisation of the centre6.3Systems architecture6.4Design of rooms and workstations6.5Operating protocols6.6Contingency plan6.7Training plan6.8Performance indicators6.9Report 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 OpenTrack, RailSys, Siemens Controlguide, Microsoft Power BI and Microsoft Visio, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for real-time traffic management, incident simulation at control posts and ergonomic design of control rooms. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Royal Decree 664/2015, ISO 11064, Regulation (EU) 2019/773 (OPE TSI), Directive (EU) 2016/798, UNE-EN 50126-1, IEC 62443, Law 38/2015.
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 OpenTrack, RailSys, Siemens Controlguide, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft Visio, 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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