Railway Engineering and Operations

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Describe key features of railway infrastructure design and engineering.
• Critically assess the key engineering and operational constraints on railway operations on a given corridor.
• Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different models of railway structure and regulation.
• Identify appropriate features and characteristics for railway rolling stock intended to operate different service types.
• Identify appropriate Human Factors methods for the design and evaluation of railway operations and processes.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• The use of creativity and innovation in problem solving.
• Collating, synthesising and prioritising information.
• Learning, studying and researching independently.
• Reporting your work effectively.
• Time management.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Principles and practice of railway signalling systems.
• Railway station and interchange design.
• The role of human factors in railway operations and safety.
• The design and engineering of railway rolling stock.
• Key aspects of rail vehicle dynamics and the wheel-rail interface.
• The design and engineering of railway track and supporting infrastructure.
• The railway timetabling process.
• The distinctive features of railway systems
• Different models of organisation, regulation and governance for rail systems.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Make use of methods for calculating rail capacity utilisation.
• Apply the elasticity-based model for rail demand forecasting.
• Interpret and use railway timetabling charts.

This module provides a detailed overview of the engineering and operation of railway systems, providing students with the background knowledge required for a range of careers in the rail industry. A focus on a small number of case study routes will provide a common thread through the different teaching sessions, with a similar approach used for the coursework assignment. Contact time in the module will include the following sessions, with each session including a mix of different delivery modes as decided by individual lecturers in consultation with the module lead:

1) Introduction to Rail Systems and Rail System Planning

2) Track and Sub-Base Engineering

3) Earthworks, Bridges, Tunnels, and Power Systems

4) Noise, Vibration and Vehicle Dynamics

5) Rolling Stock and Propulsion Systems

6) Signalling Systems

7) Capacity, Timetabling and Traffic Management

8) Station and Interchange Design

9) Organisation, Regulation and Governance

10) Human Factors and Safety

11) High Speed Rail

12) Light Rail

A mixture of classroom-based teaching and learning methods will be used, including lectures, group activities and class discussions. These will be supplemented by formative tests available through Blackboard, self-study, and a field trip to a local rail facility (subject to permission from facility managers).

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.