Postgraduate Diploma in Track-Vehicle Interaction and Dynamics
Online 800-hour postgraduate diploma in Track-Vehicle Interaction and Dynamics. 8 modules covering EN 14363 (dynamic behaviour tests for vehicle acceptance), EN 15302 (equivalent conicity) and SIMPACK. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Track-Vehicle Interaction and Dynamics — studying from South Africa
Civil engineering is central to South Africa's infrastructure, from roads and water systems to rail and urban development. Transnet's freight rail network, the Gautrain system in Gauteng and metropolitan projects in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg create steady demand for engineers. Large contractors and consultancies, along with public agencies such as the South African National Roads Agency Limited, employ specialists in structures, transport and urban systems. Smart city initiatives increasingly combine civil works with digital monitoring and sustainable design.
Fees for South Africa: R 16 700 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African body registers civil engineers, and would SEIUM qualifications count towards registration?
ECSA registers engineering professionals in South Africa, and built environment professionals are registered through SACPCMP and SACAP. Registration requires recognised qualifications, supervised experience and assessment. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. Whether they count is decided by ECSA or the relevant body and your employer, so verify before enrolling.
Will this programme help me work on rail or smart city projects in South Africa?
South Africa has ongoing infrastructure, rail and urban development work, with projects involving public bodies, engineering consultancies and contractors. Employers typically seek registered professionals with proven project experience. A private online qualification in smart cities or rail can support your profile, but it does not guarantee work on any project. Speak to potential employers about how they view it.
Can I study alongside a full-time job, and can my employer help pay?
Yes, the programme is 100% online, so you can study around work, though you need a reasonable level of English as teaching is in English. Master's programmes take 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with a technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Many employers in South Africa fund professional development, so ask yours.
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
Explain the mechanics of wheel-rail contact.
Model the dynamics of railway vehicles using multibody tools.
Assess derailment safety.
Analyse the dynamic response of the track.
Predict wear and rolling contact fatigue.
Assess the noise and vibration generated by the interaction.
Design a monitoring system for track-vehicle interaction.
Who it's for
- Railway dynamics engineer looking to specialise in Track-Vehicle Interaction and Dynamics.
- Track-vehicle interaction specialist looking to specialise in Track-Vehicle Interaction and Dynamics.
- Dynamic homologation engineer looking to specialise in Track-Vehicle Interaction and Dynamics.
- Track engineer looking to specialise in Track-Vehicle Interaction and Dynamics.
- Wear and contact fatigue analyst looking to specialise in Track-Vehicle Interaction and Dynamics.
- Railway noise and vibration engineer looking to specialise in Track-Vehicle Interaction and Dynamics.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to join rolling stock manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- EN 14363 (dynamic behaviour tests for vehicle acceptance)
- EN 15302 (equivalent conicity)
- EN 13715 (wheel tread profile)
- EN 13674-1 (Vignole rails)
- Regulation (EU) 1299/2014 (TSI infrastructure)
- ISO 3095 (noise emitted by railway vehicles)
- EN 15610 (measurement of acoustic roughness of wheel and rail)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Wheel and rail profile geometry1.2Equivalent conicity1.3Hertz contact theory1.4Kalker theory and creepages1.5Creep forces1.6Adhesion and friction coefficient1.7Flange contact1.8Contact software FASTSIM and CONTACT1.9S1002 wheel and 60E1 rail profiles1.10Practical: equivalent conicity calculation
2.1Multibody vehicle models2.2Hunting motion and stability2.3Critical speed2.4Curving performance2.5Primary and secondary suspensions2.6Steered-axle bogies2.7Response to track irregularities2.8SIMPACK and VAMPIRE software2.9Validation through testing2.10Workshop: multibody model of a bogie
3.1Nadal criterion3.2Flange climb derailment3.3Wheel unloading due to track twist3.4Overturning due to lateral wind3.5Lateral forces and track displacement3.6Prud'homme criterion3.7Tests according to EN 143633.8Dynamic acceptance of vehicles3.9Historical derailment cases3.10Practical: safety assessment under track twist
4.1Track models on elastic foundation4.2Vertical track stiffness4.3Rail pads and fastenings4.4Ballast, sub-ballast and formation4.5Slab track4.6Transition zones4.7Vibrations in high-speed bridges4.8Bridge resonance and Eurocode EN 1991-24.9Track-structure interaction4.10Laboratory: measurement of vertical track stiffness
5.1Wheel and rail wear mechanisms5.2Archard wear models5.3Rolling contact fatigue5.4Head checks and squats5.5Rail corrugation5.6Wheel flats5.7Lubrication and friction modifiers5.8Rail grinding and wheel profiling5.9Profile management5.10Case study: grinding strategy for a line
6.1Rolling noise6.2Combined wheel-rail roughness6.3TWINS model6.4Curve squeal6.5Ground-borne vibration6.6Structure-borne noise in buildings6.7Track mitigation: mats and dampers6.8Vehicle mitigation6.9Railway noise regulation6.10Practical: rolling noise prediction
7.1Instrumented axles and load-measuring wheelsets7.2Track force measurement7.3Load detectors and wheel flat detectors7.4Car body and bogie accelerations7.5Ride quality EN 122997.6In-service stability monitoring7.7Interaction data management7.8Correlation with track defects7.9Integrated vehicle-track maintenance7.10Workshop: analysis of instrumented axle records
8.1Definition of vehicle and line8.2Contact model and profiles8.3Multibody dynamic model8.4Stability and curving analysis8.5Derailment safety8.6Predicted wear and fatigue8.7Improvement proposals8.8Validation plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, making it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SIMPACK, VAMPIRE, Universal Mechanism, ANSYS Mechanical, MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real test procedures, including instrumented axle dynamometers, wheel and rail profile measurement, and track vibration and noise measurements. Assessment is continuous per module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the mechanics of wheel-rail contact.
Model the dynamics of railway vehicles using multibody tools.
Assess derailment safety.
Analyse the dynamic response of the track.
Predict wear and rolling contact fatigue.
Where this takes you
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.
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 800 hours, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme works with SIMPACK, VAMPIRE, Universal Mechanism, ANSYS Mechanical, MATLAB. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An in-house SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or diploma in the same area are recognised towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when enrolling.
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