Rolling Stock Course: Maintenance and Operation
Online course of 300 hours in rolling stock maintenance and operation, structured in 6 modules covering rolling stock types and subsystems, maintenance organisation, bogie and running gear maintenance, electrical and electronic systems and fleet operation under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/779, Regulation (EU) 1302/2014 and Regulation (EU) 321/2013, with an assigned technical tutor.
Rolling Stock Course: Maintenance and Operation — studying from New Zealand
Civil engineering is one of New Zealand's largest engineering employers, driven by the need for earthquake-resilient infrastructure, roading, water and wastewater systems across a seismically active country. Major projects include Auckland's City Rail Link and Wellington's transport upgrades, with rail maintained largely by KiwiRail. Engineers work for consultancies, contractors and councils, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment administers the Building Act and related standards, while Waka Kotahi manages the national land transport network.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$1,080 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
What is the recognition pathway for civil and rail engineers in New Zealand?
Engineering New Zealand administers Chartered Professional Engineer registration, which is the main recognised professional standard for civil engineers. Rail is regulated through the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and the Ministry of Transport. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by a national body, so employers or the relevant body decide how much weight to give them.
Who hires civil, rail and smart city engineers in New Zealand?
Employers include city and regional councils, central government agencies, consultancies, contractors, and rail and transport operators. Smart city roles increasingly combine infrastructure knowledge with data and digital systems. Hiring usually depends on registration, experience and project records, so a private qualification is a supporting credential rather than a guaranteed entry point.
Will I need a visa, and how do fees and employer funding work?
No student visa is needed to study from home, because all programmes are 100% online and taught in English. Each programme includes an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Master's programmes take 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300, so check the time commitment against your workload.
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
Identify rolling stock subsystems and their functions.
Organise maintenance within the Entity in Charge of Maintenance framework.
Plan the maintenance of bogies, axles and brakes.
Diagnose faults in electrical and electronic systems.
Manage the day-to-day operation of rolling stock.
Measure the reliability and cost of a fleet.
Prepare a maintenance and operation plan for a fleet.
Who it's for
- Rolling stock engineers.
- Railway workshop managers.
- Train maintenance technicians.
- Fleet managers.
- Reliability engineers in the rail sector.
- Railway operations planners.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to join a railway operator.
What you'll work with
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/779 (certification system for entities in charge of maintenance)
- Regulation (EU) 1302/2014 (TSI for locomotives and passenger rolling stock)
- Regulation (EU) 321/2013 (TSI for freight wagons)
- UNE-EN 15313 (in-service wheelset maintenance)
- UNE-EN 13306 (maintenance terminology)
- UNE-EN 17023 (railway vehicle maintenance plan)
- UNE-EN 45545-2 (fire protection of railway vehicles)
- Royal Decree 929/2020 (Spanish regulation on railway operational safety and interoperability)
- SAP Plant Maintenance
- IBM Maximo
- Microsoft Excel
- Power BI
- ReliaSoft Weibull++
6 modules
1.1Locomotives, multiple units and high-speed trains1.2Freight wagons and passenger coaches1.3Carbody, bogies and suspension1.4Electric and diesel traction1.5Pneumatic and electric braking systems1.6Auxiliary systems and HVAC1.7On-board control and communication systems1.8Metro and tram rolling stock1.9Life cycle of a train1.10Case study: functional breakdown of an electric multiple unit
2.1Maintenance plans by mileage and time2.2Maintenance levels: I to V2.3Preventive and corrective maintenance2.4Entity in Charge of Maintenance (ECM)2.5Workshops and maintenance depots2.6Spare parts and stores management2.7Maintenance management systems2.8Full-service maintenance contracts2.9Fleet reliability indicators2.10Workshop: maintenance plan for a train series
3.1Wheelsets and their inspection3.2Wheel reprofiling on an underfloor lathe3.3Non-destructive testing of axles3.4Primary and secondary suspension3.5Bearings and axle boxes3.6Inspection of brakes and brake blocks3.7Wheel profile measurement3.8Bogie overhauls3.9Causes of running gear failure3.10Practical exercise: interpreting wheel profile measurements
4.1Traction equipment and converters4.2Traction motors4.3Pantographs and high-voltage equipment4.4Batteries and auxiliary systems4.5Door systems4.6On-board diagnostics and remote diagnostics4.7Condition-based maintenance4.8On-board software and updates4.9Train cybersecurity4.10Case study: diagnosing a door fault
5.1Allocation of rolling stock to services5.2Rotations and rolling stock diagrams5.3Preparation and brake tests5.4Energy-efficient driving techniques5.5Cleaning and servicing5.6Management of in-service failures5.7Rescue and towing of trains5.8Training of drivers and workshop staff5.9Safety in workshops and on the track5.10Case study: rotation diagram for a commuter fleet
6.1Description of the fleet and its service6.2Fleet reliability analysis6.3Preventive maintenance plan6.4Workshop organisation6.5Spare parts management6.6Operation and rotation plan6.7Indicators and dashboard6.8Cost analysis6.9Report 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 SAP Plant Maintenance, IBM Maximo, Microsoft Excel, Power BI and ReliaSoft Weibull++, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for fleet maintenance planning, train fault diagnosis and railway workshop organisation. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/779 (ECM certification), Regulation (EU) 1302/2014 (LOC&PAS TSI), Regulation (EU) 321/2013 (WAG TSI), UNE-EN 15313, UNE-EN 13306, UNE-EN 17023, UNE-EN 45545-2, Royal Decree 929/2020.
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 SAP Plant Maintenance, IBM Maximo, Microsoft Excel, Power BI, ReliaSoft Weibull++, 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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