High-Speed Rail-Vehicle Interaction Course
Online course of 300 hours in High-Speed Track-Vehicle Interaction: 6 modules covering high-speed railway dynamics, modelling of the track-vehicle system, wear and contact fatigue, vibration, noise and environment, and vehicle acceptance and monitoring, with an assigned technical tutor.
High-Speed Rail-Vehicle Interaction Course — 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: €743 (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 mechanics of wheel-rail contact.
Model the coupled track-vehicle system.
Analyse stability and safety against derailment.
Assess wear and rolling contact fatigue.
Study vibration, noise and comfort at high speed.
Interpret acceptance tests and track recording data.
Develop a track-vehicle interaction study for a high-speed line.
Who it's for
- Railway dynamics engineers.
- Rolling stock engineers.
- High-speed track engineers.
- Railway researchers.
- Vehicle acceptance and homologation engineers.
- Vibration consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter high-speed rail.
What you'll work with
- UNE-EN 14363 (testing and simulation for the acceptance of running characteristics of railway vehicles)
- UNE-EN 13848 (track geometry quality)
- Regulation (EU) 1299/2014 (TSI infrastructure)
- UNE-EN 15302 (method for determining equivalent conicity)
- Regulation (EU) 1302/2014 (TSI locomotives and passenger rolling stock)
- UNE-EN 12299 (ride comfort for passengers: measurement and evaluation)
- UNE-EN 1991-2 (Eurocode 1: traffic loads on bridges)
- UNE-EN 13715 (wheel tread profiles)
- SIMPACK
- VI-Rail
- Universal Mechanism
- MATLAB/Simulink
- ANSYS Mechanical
6 modules
1.1Wheel-rail contact and Kalker's theory1.2Equivalent conicity and hunting motion1.3Dynamic stability of the vehicle1.4Guiding forces in curves1.5Nadal criterion and derailment1.6Vertical dynamic forces1.7Track irregularities as excitation1.8Natural frequencies of the vehicle and track1.9Critical track velocity1.10Practical: calculation of equivalent conicity
2.1Multibody vehicle models2.2Discrete and continuous track models2.3Time-domain track-vehicle coupling2.4Curving simulation2.5Interaction with structures: bridges2.6Resonance in high-speed viaducts2.7Aerodynamic effects on the track2.8Model validation with tests2.9Commercial simulation tools2.10Lab: vehicle simulation in SIMPACK
3.1Wheel and rail wear mechanisms3.2Optimised wheel and rail profiles3.3Rolling contact fatigue3.4Rail corrugation3.5Lubrication and friction modifiers3.6Wheel reprofiling3.7Preventive rail grinding3.8Wear prediction models3.9Influence of mixed traffic3.10Case study: profile optimisation on a line
4.1Rolling and aerodynamic noise4.2Ground-borne vibration4.3Rayleigh wave effect in soft soils4.4Mitigation measures in the track4.5Noise barriers and their effectiveness4.6Passenger comfort and ride quality indices4.7Vibration in nearby buildings4.8Railway noise maps4.9Applicable environmental regulations4.10Workshop: comfort assessment with acceleration records
5.1Dynamic acceptance tests5.2Measurement of wheel-rail forces5.3Instrumented wheelsets5.4High-speed track recording trains5.5Track quality limits for high speed5.6Geometric quality and maximum speed5.7Analysis of dynamic incidents5.8Interaction-based maintenance5.9Lessons from high-speed lines5.10Case study: analysis of a track recording train record
6.1Definition of the line and the vehicle6.2Track parameters and profiles6.3Simulation model6.4Stability and safety analysis6.5Comfort analysis6.6Wear study6.7Maintenance recommendations6.8Technical conclusions of the study6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your 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 the intake, so it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SIMPACK, VI-Rail, Universal Mechanism, MATLAB/Simulink and ANSYS Mechanical, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures for dynamic simulation of railway vehicles, resonance analysis of viaducts and wheel and rail wear studies. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrated project.
Standards covered: UNE-EN 14363; UNE-EN 13848; Regulation (EU) 1299/2014; UNE-EN 15302; Regulation (EU) 1302/2014; UNE-EN 12299; UNE-EN 1991-2; UNE-EN 13715.
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 SIMPACK, VI-Rail, Universal Mechanism, MATLAB/Simulink and ANSYS Mechanical, 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 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.
Related programmes
Course in Innovative Public Procurement in Cities
300-hour online course in innovative public procurement in cities. 6 Modules Covering Law 9/2017 on Public Sector Contracts, Directive 2014/24/EU on Public Procurement and Public Sector…
Port Last-Mile Operations Course
300-hour online course in Port Last-Mile Operations. 6 modules covering the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), Regulation (EC) 561/2006,…
Course in Crisis Communication in Cities
Online 300 h course in Crisis Communication in Cities. 6 modules with ISO 22322 Emergency management: guidelines for public warning, ISO 22329 Guidelines for the use…
More in Civil, Rail & Smart Cities
All Civil, Rail & Smart Cities programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships