Rail-Road Multimodal Transportation Course
Online course of 300 hours in rail–road multimodal transport: 6 modules covering rail–road intermodal systems, intermodal terminals, rail freight operations, the legal and documentary framework, and costs, emissions and digitalisation, 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
Understand the structure of the rail–road combined transport chain.
Identify intermodal loading units and their technical requirements.
Size intermodal terminals and their handling equipment.
Plan rail freight services using capacity criteria.
Apply the European and international legal framework for combined transport.
Calculate the costs and emissions of multimodal alternatives.
Design an intermodal service that is technically and economically viable.
Who it's for
- Intermodal operations managers
- Rail freight terminal managers
- Combined transport planners
- Multimodal logistics consultants
- Rail freight traffic technicians
- Commercial managers of intermodal services
- Engineering or science graduates looking to join rail freight operators
What you'll work with
- Directive 92/106/EEC (combined transport)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 (trans-European transport network (TEN-T))
- COTIF Convention and CIM Uniform Rules (international carriage of goods by rail)
- CMR Convention (international carriage of goods by road)
- RID (international carriage of dangerous goods by rail)
- ADR (European agreement on the carriage of dangerous goods by road)
- ISO 14083:2023 (quantification of GHG emissions from transport chains)
- Law 38/2015 (Spanish Railway Sector Act)
- PTV Visum
- Navis N4
- SAP Transportation Management
- OpenTrack
6 modules
1.1The door-to-door transport chain1.2Intermodal units: container, swap body and semi-trailer1.3Rolling motorways and accompanied transport1.4Unaccompanied combined transport1.5TEN-T trans-European network corridors1.6Stakeholders: operator, terminal, shipper and freight forwarder1.7Avoided externalities and environmental benefits1.8Rail modal share in Europe and Spain1.9Technical barriers: loading gauge, length and weight1.10Case study: analysis of the Algeciras–Zaragoza corridor
2.1Typologies: dry port and logistics platform2.2Gantry cranes and reach stackers2.3Layout of tracks, loading areas and storage2.4Horizontal and vertical transhipment of units2.5Yard management and slot allocation2.6Terminal operating systems (TOS)2.7Productivity: moves per hour and dwell times2.8Operational safety and access control2.9ILU and BIC coding of loading units2.10Practical exercise: sizing an inland terminal
3.1Container wagons and articulated platforms3.2Pocket wagons and semi-trailer systems3.3Freight train formation and braking3.4Train paths, line capacity and timetables3.5750-metre trains: infrastructure requirements3.6Interoperability and Iberian gauge3.7Electric and diesel traction for freight3.8Entity in Charge of Maintenance (ECM)3.9Punctuality and reliability indicators3.10Workshop: designing a weekly shuttle service
4.1Combined Transport Directive 92/106/EEC4.2COTIF Convention and CIM Uniform Rules4.3CMR Convention for the road leg4.4Consignment note and customs documentation4.5Dangerous goods under RID and ADR4.6Liability of the multimodal operator4.7Incoterms 2020 in land transport4.8Public subsidies for modal shift4.9Liberalisation and access to infrastructure4.10Case study: claim for damage to a shipment
5.1Costs of the rail leg and of drayage5.2Break-even point against direct road haulage5.3Modal choice models and value of time5.4Optimising first- and last-mile drayage5.5Carbon footprint under ISO 140835.6Telematics and tracking of loading units5.7Electronic freight transport information (eFTI)5.8Incident management and contingency plans5.9Service indicators for the shipper5.10Lab: comparison of route costs and emissions
6.1Defining the freight flow and the customer6.2Estimating demand and potential volumes6.3Selecting terminals and corridor6.4Operating plan and service frequencies6.5Cost calculation and target rate6.6Avoided emissions and environmental assessment6.7Operational risks and alternatives6.8Phased implementation plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the 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 you can combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PTV Visum, Navis N4, SAP Transportation Management, OpenTrack, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Real procedures are studied for analysing real intermodal corridors, sizing rail–road terminals and comparing costs and emissions between modes. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: Directive 92/106/EEC; Regulation (EU) 2024/1679; COTIF Convention and CIM Uniform Rules; CMR Convention; RID; ADR; ISO 14083:2023; 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 PTV Visum, Navis N4, SAP Transportation Management and OpenTrack, 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 need an internet connection, a computer capable of running 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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