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Postgraduate DiplomaCivil, Rail & Smart Cities Applications open

Postgraduate Diploma in Rail Welding, Switches and Maintenance

Online Postgraduate Diploma of 800 hours in Rail Welding, Switches and Maintenance. 8 modules covering EN 13674-1 (Vignole rails), EN 14730-1 (aluminothermic rail welding) and AutoCAD. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Relate rail metallurgy to its in-service behaviour.

02

Carry out and control aluminothermic welds.

03

Understand the flash butt welding process.

04

Apply stress release in jointless track.

05

Describe the geometry and components of switches and crossings.

06

Plan switch maintenance and rail inspection.

07

Develop a welding and switch maintenance project.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Track maintenance engineer looking to specialise in Rail Welding, Switches and Maintenance.
  • Rail welding technician looking to specialise in Rail Welding, Switches and Maintenance.
  • Switch inspector looking to specialise in Rail Welding, Switches and Maintenance.
  • Site manager for railway superstructure looking to specialise in Rail Welding, Switches and Maintenance.
  • Railway non-destructive testing technician looking to specialise in Rail Welding, Switches and Maintenance.
  • Track quality manager looking to specialise in Rail Welding, Switches and Maintenance.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the railway infrastructure sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • EN 13674-1 (Vignole rails)
  • EN 14730-1 (aluminothermic rail welding)
  • EN 14587-1 (Electric Flash Butt Welding)
  • EN 13232 (track switches and crossings)
  • EN 16729 (non-destructive rail testing)
  • EN 13231 (acceptance of track works)
Syllabus

8 modules · 800 h

  1. 1.1Rail manufacturing
  2. 1.2Steel grades according to EN 13674-1
  3. 1.3Rail profiles
  4. 1.4Head-hardened rails
  5. 1.5Pearlitic and bainitic microstructure
  6. 1.6Manufacturing defects
  7. 1.7Residual stresses
  8. 1.8Continuous welded rail
  9. 1.9Neutral temperature
  10. 1.10Laboratory: rail microstructure analysis
  1. 2.1Principle of the aluminothermic reaction
  2. 2.2Short preheating processes
  3. 2.3EN 14730 standard
  4. 2.4Joint preparation
  5. 2.5Moulds and crucibles
  6. 2.6Grinding and finishing
  7. 2.7Typical welding defects
  8. 2.8Inspection and testing
  9. 2.9Welder approval
  10. 2.10Workshop: aluminothermic welding sequence
  1. 3.1Principle of flash butt welding
  2. 3.2EN 14587 standard
  3. 3.3Fixed-plant welding
  4. 3.4Mobile welding machines
  5. 3.5Process parameters
  6. 3.6Quality control
  7. 3.7Rail build-up by electric arc
  8. 3.8Repair of surface defects
  9. 3.9Comparison of welding processes
  10. 3.10Practice: analysis of flash butt welding parameters
  1. 4.1Thermal forces in rail
  2. 4.2Lateral track buckling
  3. 4.3Stress release
  4. 4.4Hydraulic tensioners
  5. 4.5Expansion devices
  6. 4.6Interaction with bridges
  7. 4.7Measurement of neutral temperature
  8. 4.8Lateral track resistance
  9. 4.9Management in hot weather
  10. 4.10Case study: stress release plan
  1. 5.1Turnouts, crossovers and scissors
  2. 5.2Switch blades and stock rails
  3. 5.3Fixed and moveable crossings
  4. 5.4Turnout geometry
  5. 5.5High-speed turnouts
  6. 5.6Point machines and switch detectors
  7. 5.7Switch heaters
  8. 5.8Slab track switches
  9. 5.9Turnout assembly
  10. 5.10Workshop: setting out a turnout
  1. 6.1Turnout inspection
  2. 6.2Wear of switch blades and crossings
  3. 6.3Adjustments and safety clearances
  4. 6.4Crossing build-up
  5. 6.5Component replacement
  6. 6.6Point machine monitoring
  7. 6.7Predictive turnout maintenance
  8. 6.8Tamping of turnouts
  9. 6.9Turnout reliability indicators
  10. 6.10Practice: maintenance plan for a turnout head
  1. 7.1Ultrasonic rail testing
  2. 7.2Eddy currents
  3. 7.3Rail defect classification
  4. 7.4Rolling contact fatigue in rail
  5. 7.5Preventive and corrective grinding
  6. 7.6Rail milling
  7. 7.7Rail replacement
  8. 7.8Management of rail breaks
  9. 7.9Safety of track works
  10. 7.10Case study: management of a defect detected by ultrasonic testing
  1. 8.1Selection of section and problem
  2. 8.2Diagnosis of rail condition
  3. 8.3Selection of welding process
  4. 8.4Stress release plan
  5. 8.5Switch maintenance plan
  6. 8.6Inspection and grinding programme
  7. 8.7Organisation of works
  8. 8.8Budget and risks
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final review with tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100 % online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded lectures and a dedicated technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is AutoCAD, MATLAB, Python (pandas), Advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for ultrasonic rail inspection, switch geometry control and rail weld testing. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrating project.

Accreditable laboratories(EN ISO/IEC 17025) with rotor test rig, EMC/Lightning pre-compliance, HIL/SIL, vibration/acoustics.
Evidence-oriented Master's Thesis:safety case, test plan, compliance dossier and operating limits.
Industry-led mentoring:lecturers with experience in training, , eVTOL/UAM and flight test.
Flexible format(hybrid/online), international cohorts and support from SEIUM Career Services.
Ethics and safety:safety-by-design approach, cyber-OT, DIH and compliance as pillars.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Selection of section and problem

Relate rail metallurgy to its in-service behaviour.

Diagnosis of rail condition

Carry out and control aluminothermic welds.

Selection of welding process

Understand the flash butt welding process.

Stress release plan

Apply stress release in jointless track.

Switch maintenance plan

Describe the geometry and components of switches and crossings.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Track maintenance engineerRail welding technicianSwitch inspectorSite manager for railway superstructureRailway non-destructive testing technicianTrack quality manager
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.

The programme uses AutoCAD, MATLAB, Python (pandas) and Advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.

An own diploma from SEIUM Institute on passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the higher programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.

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