Underground Metro Station Design Course
Online course of 300 hours in underground metro station design, structured in 6 modules covering station planning, functional and passenger flow design, structural and geotechnical design, station building services and construction and operation, 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
Plan the location and typology of a metro station.
Size platforms, concourses and circulation according to demand.
Design the structure and geotechnical solution of the station.
Integrate ventilation, fire protection and power systems.
Verify evacuation according to NFPA 130.
Coordinate the project using BIM methodology.
Develop the preliminary design of a metro station.
Who it's for
- Metro project engineers.
- Station architects.
- Underground structures engineers.
- Railway building services engineers.
- BIM coordinators.
- Metro construction site managers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to work in metro and rail.
What you'll work with
- NFPA 130 (fixed guideway transit and passenger rail systems)
- Regulation (EU) 1300/2014 TSI PRM (accessibility for persons with reduced mobility)
- Regulation (EU) 1303/2014 TSI SRT (safety in railway tunnels)
- Structural Code Royal Decree 470/2021 (Spanish structural code)
- UNE-EN 1997-1 Eurocode 7 (geotechnical design)
- UNE-EN 1998-1 Eurocode 8 (design of structures for earthquake resistance)
- Royal Decree 513/2017 (Spanish fire protection installations regulation)
- UNE-EN ISO 19650-1:2019 (information management using BIM)
- Autodesk Revit
- PLAXIS 3D
- Oasys MassMotion
- Pathfinder
- Navisworks
6 modules
1.1The role of the station in the network1.2Demand studies and peak hours1.3Typologies: diaphragm-wall box, cavern and cut-and-cover1.4Depth and relationship with the alignment1.5Urban integration and entrances1.6Modal interchange1.7Constraints from affected utilities1.8Reference stations in Europe1.9Construction cost and programme1.10Case study: analysis of a Madrid station
2.1Platform sizing2.2Concourses and ticket control areas2.3Fixed stairs and escalators2.4Lifts and universal accessibility2.5Fruin levels of service2.6Pedestrian flow simulation2.7Signage and wayfinding2.8Platform screen doors2.9Technical and operational rooms2.10Workshop: peak-hour pedestrian simulation
3.1Diaphragm walls and piles3.2Propping slabs and floors3.3Bottom-up and top-down methods3.4Caverns excavated with the New Austrian Tunnelling Method3.5Earth and water pressures3.6Flotation and uplift3.7Seismic actions3.8Concrete durability3.9Interaction with adjacent buildings3.10Practical exercise: preliminary sizing of station diaphragm walls
4.1Tunnel and station ventilation4.2Platform air conditioning4.3Fire protection4.4Evacuation according to NFPA 1304.5Power supply and substations4.6Lighting and efficiency4.7Communications and control4.8Drainage and pumping4.9Building management system4.10Lab: platform evacuation time
5.1Construction phases and traffic diversions5.2Monitoring during construction5.3Management of utility interferences5.4Vibration and noise impact5.5BIM modelling of the station5.6Maintenance and service life5.7Passenger safety5.8Sustainable design and materials5.9Refurbishment of existing stations5.10Case study: extension of a station in service
6.1Definition of the location6.2Demand study6.3Functional design6.4Structural and construction solution6.5Main building services6.6Evacuation plan6.7BIM model6.8Construction planning6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is 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 you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Autodesk Revit, PLAXIS 3D, Oasys MassMotion, Pathfinder and Navisworks, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: functional design of a diaphragm-wall station, simulation of platform flows and evacuation and preliminary structural sizing of a cavern. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: NFPA 130, Regulation (EU) 1300/2014 TSI PRM, Regulation (EU) 1303/2014 TSI SRT, Structural Code Royal Decree 470/2021, UNE-EN 1997-1 Eurocode 7, UNE-EN 1998-1 Eurocode 8, Royal Decree 513/2017, UNE-EN ISO 19650-1:2019.
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 Autodesk Revit, PLAXIS 3D, Oasys MassMotion, Pathfinder, Navisworks, 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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