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Start   >  Master's & postgraduate courses  >  Education  >  Continuing education master's degree in Railway System and Electrical Drive
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  • discount

    Are you UPC Alumni? 15% discount if you enroll before July 1

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    10% discount if you enrol before 1 July

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    Two grants of 25% for this master's degree

Presentation

Edition
15th Edition
Credits
60 ECTS (502 teaching hours)
Delivery
Face-to-face
Language of instruction
Spanish
Fee
€9,900 €8,910(10% discount if you enrol before 1 July)
Payment of enrolment fee options

The enrolment fee can be paid:
- In a single payment to be paid within the deadline specified in the letter of admission to the programme.
- In two instalments:

  • 60% of the amount payable, to be paid within the deadline specified in the letter of admission to the programme.
  • Remaining 40% to be paid up to 90 days at the latest after the starting date of the programme.
- In four instalments, splitting the payment by direct debit:
  • 40% of the amount payable, to be paid within the deadline specified in the letter of admission to the programme.
  • The remaining 60% will be divided into 3 direct debit payments, which will be distributed equidistantly between the beginning and end of classes.
  • The student must have and be the holder of a bank account with IBAN ESXX
Notes 0,7% campaign

Registration open until the beginning of the course or until end of vacancies.
Start date
Classes start: 18/10/2024
Classes end: 12/07/2025
Programme ends : 15/10/2025
Timetable
Friday: 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Taught at
EPSEVG - Escola Politècnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Vilanova i la Geltrú
Av. Víctor Balaguer, s/n
Vilanova i la Geltrú
Why this continuing education master's degree?
Spain’s railway system is one of the most advanced in the world. It is ranked first in high-speed trains in Europe and third worldwide on currently operating UIC broad gauge. It is composed of around 600 companies, invoices approximately 6.5 billion euros per year and employs 145,000 professionals, according to the report from the technical-scientific commission to study improvements in the railway sector spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Works. The Spanish railway industry is a worldwide leader and a referent in constant expansion, with a high degree of internationalisation and innovative technology.

In its nine years, the Master’s in Railway Systems and Electrical Traction has contributed to the specialised training of professionals in one of the most important sectors in the country. It is a benchmark in higher education in the technical aspects of railways: operating and running railway services, rolling stock and vehicle maintenance, electrification and energy, signage, communication and managing railway traffic. For this reason, the Master’s enlists contributions from the top and most experienced technical experts in railway systems and the current executives of the most representative companies in the sector. We offer training on par with the present and future needs of leading companies in the railway sector.

The Master has a clearly practical orientation. Proof of this are the visits made to factories, workshops, installations and control centres. The main accomplishment of the Master’s is unquestionably the high level of job placement for programme graduates. Around 70% of students, who had no previous professional experience, have found work in less than one year after completing the Master’s, while the 30% who already worked in the sector have been promoted to a higher position.

This programme provides its participants with the chance to do professional internships in recognised companies in the sector, such as RENFE, FGC and TMB.

Promoted by:
  • Escola Politecnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Vilanova i la Geltrú (EPSEVG)
Aims
  • To train professionals to join different business segments in the railway sector.
  • To examine aspects referring to electrification, signage, communications, rolling stock and management and operation of railway companies.
  • To offer specific studies on railway installations, vehicles and management.
  • To work with cutting-edge companies in this sector with the goal of training professionals who fit the market needs.
Who is it for?
  • Professionals in the railway sector.
  • Graduates and Industrial Engineers or Technical Engineers.
  • Graduates and Civil Engineers.
  • Graduates and Telecommunications Engineers.
  • Graduates and Computer Engineers.

Training Content

List of subjects
3 ECTS 30h
Railway Systems
  • The railway as a system. Basic concepts, subsystems and interrelations.
  • Organisation of the railway sector. Administrations and companies.
  • Railway geography of Catalonia, Spain and the rest of Europe.
  • Vehicles and trains. Basic characteristics and overview. Spanish trains.
  • The market and clients. Commercial needs and competitiveness of the railway.
  • Railway and environment.
  • The railway in the transport sector and in the national economy.
  • Lifecycle of the railway system.

*Visit: Railway Museum of Catalonia.
3 ECTS 30h
High Velocity Trains and Interurban Train Service
  • Scales and units employed in passenger transport.
  • Demand and market. Technical and financial details.
  • Supply. Products, trains and services.
  • Principles and advantages of high sped trains.
  • High velocity trains in Spain.
  • Technology specific to high speed train lines.
  • The aerodynamics of high velocity trains.
  • Rolling stock used for conventional medium and long distance service.
  • Rolling stock used for high speed service.
  • Technical and economic operation of high speed service.
  • Design and management of stations and terminals for passenger service.

*Visit: Regional Control Cdnter of the Zaragoza High Speed Train Line.
3 ECTS 30h
Local Trains, Regional Trains, Underground, Trams
  • Urban and metropolitan transport. Description.
  • Demand and the market.
  • Technical and financial exploitation of metropolitan and urban rail transport.
  • Local train service.
  • Underground.
  • Light rail and trams.
  • Stree trains.
  • Accessibility and intermodal transport.

*Visits: Commuter Train Control Centre of Catalonia in El Clot. ADIF Control Centre in Barcelona's Estació de França.
3 ECTS 30h
Merchandise and Logistics
  • Demand and the Market.
  • Train production. Transport plan.
  • Freight terminals.
  • Siding. Specific derivatives.
  • Transport logistics.

*Visit: Best Port Terminal in Barcelona.
3 ECTS 30h
Electricity and Railway Mechanics
  • Kinematics, static and dynamic.
  • Aerodynamic resistance. Gravitational loads.
  • Introduction to the Railway Dynamics. Speed. Layout.
  • Mechanical Vibrations.
  • Wheel Kinematics and Dynamics.
  • Axis dynamics. Qualitative analysis. Equations.
3 ECTS 30h
Electric Traction
  • Basic principles.
  • Mechanical transmission.
  • Traction motors that use commutators and how to control them.
  • Synchronous traction motors and how to control them.
  • Asynchronous traction motors and how to control them.
  • Other traction motors.
  • Diesel/electric traction.
  • Electrical automobile traction.

*Visit: Siemens Factory in Cornellà de Llobregat.
3 ECTS 30h
Elements of Rolling Stock
  • The rolling stock in railway systems.
  • Main systems.
  • Shock and traction organs. Hitches.
  • Traction equipment.
  • Braking equipment.
  • Features required for trains.
  • Installations of the train system.
  • Other carrier systems.
  • Project considerations.

*Visit: Alstom factory in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda.
3 ECTS 30h
Engineering and Maintenance
  • Reliability.
  • Maintainability.
  • Availability.
  • Life cycle.
  • Project reliability.
  • Maintainability in design.
  • Overall maintenance management.
  • Technical maintenance management.
  • Improving maintenance efficiency.

*Visits: Renfe manufacturing and maintenance yards in Vilanova i la Geltrú.
Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya yards in Rubí.
3 ECTS 30h
Railway Infrastructure
  • Platform and track.
  • Station design. Accessibility.
  • Transport switches.
  • Gauges.
  • Bridges and tunnels.
  • Broad gauge switches.
  • General maintenance criteria in railway infrastructures.
3 ECTS 30h
Railways and Energy
  • Overview of energy and problems related to its use.
  • Energy and transport.
  • Types of traction and energy vectors in railways.
  • Dynamic braling and auxiliary train services.
  • Energy needed to move a train.
  • Energy demand of the train according to services and critical variables.
  • Overview of practices and measures used to reduce the energy demands of raliways.
  • Actions in the design of trains and lines.
  • Economical conducting and efficient traffic regulation.

*Visit: Practice at the Renfe training centre in L' Hospitalet de Llobregat on efficient conducting.
3 ECTS 30h
Substations and Networks
  • General elements of DC electricity.
  • Rectifier substations (DC).
  • Electronic calculations for DC power.
  • General elements of AC electricity.
  • AC substations.
  • Electronic calculations in AC.
  • Maintenance and use of electricity installations.

*Visit: TMB, Transport Metropolità de Barcelona substations in Badalona.
3 ECTS 30h
Electrification and Overhead Powerlines
  • Introduction.
  • Requirements and specifications.
  • Distribution of electrical currents and tensions.
  • Design of the aerial contact line.
  • Support of the aerial contact line.
  • Mechanical behaviour of the catenary line.
  • Posts and foundations.
  • Dynamic behaviour of the catenary line.
  • Planning to implement the catenary line.
  • Insulation and electrical safety.
  • Assembling the catenary line.
  • Maintenance of the catenary line.

*Visit: Transformation Centre installations at Espluga de Francolí.
3 ECTS 30h
Communications Applied to Railways
  • General principles of electricity
  • Fundamental elements of electronics.
  • Basic elements of communications.
  • Train-land communications (PMR, Tetra).
  • Other communications systems.
3 ECTS 30h
Railway Signalling
  • General analysis of signalling.
  • Signalling and its applications.
  • Different signalling devices and their applications in railways.
  • Specifications of the devices that need to be installed according to the width of the tracks and the Railway Administration regulations.
  • Analysis of reliable train detection systems.
  • Application of safety systems that control the circulation and movements of trains.
  • Study of the symbology involved in the creation of signalling schemes.
  • Application of Interlocking systems that function between different safeguard systems that control the circulation and movements of trains.
  • Analysis of the different forms of automatic formulation of itineraries and their annulment.
  • Methodology for application of systems that control safety systems.
  • Application of level crossings where roads and railways intersect.

*Visit: Sants Station in Barcelona.
3 ECTS 30h
Automatic Train Protection Systems (ATP)
  • General analysis of ATP systems.
  • ATP systems and their applications.
  • Different ATP systems and their application to railways.
  • Specifications of ATP devices that need to be installed according to the width of the tracks and the Railway Administration regulations.
  • Analysis of the systems used for reliable ATP use.
  • Application of ATP systems that control the circulation and movements of trains.
  • Study of the symbology involved in the creation of ATP schemes.
    Application of ATP systems that function between different safeguard systems that control the circulation and movements of trains.
  • Analysis of the different forms of automatic formulation of itineraries and their annulment according to the type of ATP system installed.
  • Methodology for application of systems that control safety systems.
  • Optimisation of ATP systems using ATO systems.

*Visit: ATP and ATO sites in the FGC facilities.
3 ECTS 30h
Technical Exploitation of Railway Infrastructure
  • Technical operations. Blocking systems.
  • Scheduling railway service.
  • Movement charts.
  • Line capacity.
  • Assigning capacity to railway operators.
  • Integrated Control Centres (ICC).

*Visit: Integrated Control Centre in Rubí of the FGC, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya.
2 ECTS 18h
Dessing and Management of New Railway Lines
The guidelines and processes to undertake a project or study in the field of railways will be discussed. The importance of sound management of the equipment and key factors in railways such as innovation, sustainability, safety, accessibility, quality, competitiveness and client-orientation in both projects and services will be studied.
10 ECTS 4h
Master's Final Project
Students will undertake a final project which will put into practice the practical contents related to any of the modules or topics discussed in the programme or develop a cross-cutting theme from the course syllabus.
The UPC School reserves the right to modify the contents of the programme, which may vary in order to better accommodate the course objectives.
Degree
Continuing education master's degree issued by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Issued by virtue of the provisions of art. 7.1 of Organic Law 2/2023 of 22 March, concerning the University System, and art. 36 of Royal Decree 822/2021 of 28 September, which establishes the organisation of university education and the procedure for ensuring its quality. A prior official university qualification is necessary to obtain it. Otherwise, the student will receive a certificate of completion of the course issued by the Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya. Lifelong learning studies at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya are approved by the University's Governing Council on an annual basis. (See details appearing on the certificate).
Range of modules
The continuing education master's degree programme is organized into the following modules. If you don't wish to take the entire continuing education master's degree you can sign on one or several modules.
Continuing education master's degree:
relation Postgraduate courses:
relation Continuing education courses:

Learning methodology

The teaching methodology of the programme facilitates the student's learning and the achievement of the necessary competences.



Learning tools
Participatory lectures
A presentation of the conceptual foundations of the content to be taught, promoting interaction with the students to guide them in their learning of the different contents and the development of the established competences.
Practical classroom sessions
Knowledge is applied to a real or hypothetical environment, where specific aspects are identified and worked on to facilitate understanding, with the support from teaching staff.
Solving exercises
Solutions are worked on by practising routines, applying formulas and algorithms, and procedures are followed for transforming the available information and interpreting the results.
Case studies
Real or hypothetical situations are presented in which the students, in a completely participatory and practical way, examine the situation, consider the various hypotheses and share their own conclusions.
Success stories
Outstanding business knowledge and experiences with high added value acquired during an outstanding professional career are presented and shared.
Visits
These visits are to specialist centres, companies in the sector or outstanding and important locations in the sector, in order to obtain knowledge in situ of development, production and demonstration environments within the programme.
Problem-based learning (PBL)
An active learning methodology that enables the student to be involved from the beginning, and to acquire knowledge and skills by considering and resolving complex problems and situations.
Tutorship
Students are given technical support in the preparation of the final project, according to their specialisation and the subject matter of the project.
Assessment criteria
Attendance
At least 80% attendance of teaching hours is required.
Level of participation
The student's active contribution to the various activities offered by the teaching team is assessed.
Solving exercises, questionnaires or exams
Individual tests aimed at assessing the degree of learning and the acquisition of competences.
Work out projects
Studies on a specific topic, by individuals or groups, in which the quality and depth of the work is assessed, among other factors.
Completion and presentation of the final project
Individual or group projects in which the contents taught in the programme are applied. The project can be based on real cases and include the identification of a problem, the design of the solution, its implementation or a business plan. The project will be presented and defended in public.
Work placements & employment service
Students can access job offers in their field of specialisation on the My_Tech_Space virtual campus. Applications made from this site will be treated confidentially. Hundreds of offers of the UPC School of Professional & Executive Development employment service appear annually. The offers range from formal contracts to work placement agreements.
Virtual campus
The students on this continuing education master's degree will have access to the My_ Tech_Space virtual campus - an effective platform for work and communication between the course's students, lecturers, directors and coordinators. My_Tech_Space provides the documentation for each training session before it starts, and enables students to work as a team, consult lecturers, check notes, etc.

Teaching team

Teaching staff
  • Altaba Marín, Iván
    info
    View profile in Linkedin
    Industrial Engineer by the UPC. Director of the Electrical and Electromechanical Systems Service of Metro de Barcelona. He has accumulated an experience of more than 15 years in the field of project, management of work and maintenance of electrical systems for traction and railway installations, catenary, energy efficiency and electromechanical equipment.
  • Altesa Cabanas, Jaume
    info

    R&D Engineer Alstom Transport.
  • Aulet Lamata, Roger
    info
    View profile in Linkedin
    Telecommunications Technical Engineer specializing in Image and Sound from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia). Master in Architectural and Environmental Acoustics by La Salle. Executive MBA by EADA. Operations Director (Servitec Radyal). Responsible for maintenance and after sales (ALTE Technologies). Founder and CEO (SPECTRA Enginyeria Acústica). Engineer (CMC Interiors) EAS Adhesive Bonding Specialist (ITCS)
  • Berrios Villalba, Antonio
    info
    View profile in Linkedin
    Industrial Engineer in Electronics and Automation. Industrial Technical Engineer in Electronics and Electricity. Postgraduate Specialist in the UPM Directive. Assistant Director of Strategic Innovation ADIF and Chairman Energy Management Sector RSF. UIC Union Internacional de Ferrocarriles. Editor of the Via Lliure Técnica Magazine.
  • Cantero de Matos, Juan
    info
    View profile in Linkedin
    Engineer of Roads, Channels and Ports. Executive MBA at EAE Business School. Head of the Technical Office - FGC Operadora de Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat de Catalunya, where he has previously held different positions as attached to the operations director, engineer responsible for the Lleida - Pobla de Segur line and responsible for merchandise and non-metropolitan lines.
  • Carrillo Morales, Manuel
    info

    Telecommunications Engineer by the UAB. Project Manager of Siemens Rail Automation. Currently head of the area of Catalonia carrying the maintenance of the signaling of the High-Speed Line section Lleida-Barcelona-Figueres of ADIF, the maintenance of the traffic remote control of the CTC of the Station of France of ADIF, the maintenance of the signaling systems of the L9 of TMB, the support of the signaling systems of the lines L2, L4, L5 and the remote control of TMB and the support of the signaling systems of Siemens of the conventional lines of Catalonia of ADIF.
  • Esquius Rafat, Andreu
    info

    Engineer of Paths, Channels and Ports by the UPC, with the specialties of Transports and Arrangement of the Territory. Program in Strategic Management of Public-Private Collaboration by ESADE. Member and director of MCRIT SL.
  • García Álvarez, Alberto
    info

    Doctor in Economic and Business Sciences from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). Doctor in Engineering and Transport Infrastructures from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), Industrial Mechanical Engineer from the ICAI Higher Technical School of Engineering. Law degree UNED. IESE's Senior Business Management Program (PADE). Renfe's general director of development and strategy.
  • García Jarabo, Carlos Gustavo
    info
    View profile in Linkedin
    Civil Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) and Master AMP from IE Business School. He is currently the Director of Innovation at Inse Rail, a member of the Knowledge Brokering Forum, and a co-founder of Mornings4. He has more than 20 years of experience in innovation ecosystems and project management in various sectors. Much of his professional development was at the multinational Acciona Ingeniería, where he directed several departments (Innovation, Offers, Contracting) after an international stage in charge of Strategic Transportation Projects in LATAM, Africa and Europe.
  • González Franco, Ignacio
    info

    Doctor in Transport Engineering and Infrastructure from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Industrial Engineer from the University of Vigo and Master in Railway Systems from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas. Between 2009 and 2019 he worked as a researcher in the R + D + i area of the Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles, assuming the leadership of the R + D + i area. Currently, he works at Renfe as Head of Models and Exploitation Studies in the Study Services Area.
  • Monjo Mur, Lluís
    info
    View profile in futur.upc / View profile in Linkedin
    PhD in Industrial Engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). Master's degree in Energy Engineering from the UPC / UB. Industrial Technical Engineer from the UPC. Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the UPC. Previously Contracted Professor at the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón de la Plana. He has participated in various research projects related to electrical machines and converters, renewable energies and power transmission systems.
  • Riol Jurado, Ricard
    info
    View profile in Linkedin

    Technical Engineer of Public Works, specialized in Transports and Urban Services, by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). Technician in the Department of Suburban Operations of Catalonia, at Renfe. Former President of the Association for the Promotion of Public Transport.

  • Sanchez Soler, Alejandro
    info
    View profile in Linkedin
    Senior Engineer in Automation and Industrial Electronics and Technical Telecommunications Engineer specializing in electronic systems from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). Experience in the railway sector since 2008, he currently works as Maintenance Manager for TMB Automatic Lines, Training and Technical Support in various SIEMENS RAIL AUTOMATION projects at a national and international level. Qualified trainer since 2019 by the AESF, and Head of Adif's approved training center at SIEMENS RAIL AUTOMATION.

Associates entities

Strategic partners
  • Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya
    • Offers professional internships for students on the programme.
    • Provides financial aid to the programme or grants for the registration of students.
    • Provides teachers and lecturers.
  • FUNDACION AVRIL
    • Provides financial aid to the programme or grants for the registration of students.
  • Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles- I+D+i-
    • Disseminates the programme in the professional sphere and area of expertise.
  • Railgrup
    • Disseminates the programme in the professional sphere and area of expertise.
  • Renfe-Ministerio de Fomento
    • Offers professional internships for students on the programme.
  • Transports de Barcelona, S.A.
    • Offers professional internships for students on the programme.
Collaborating partners

Career opportunities

  • Responsible of operations of railways services.
  • Head of rail, electrification and energy infrastructures.
  • Responsible for the development and supply of railway equipment and services.
  • Consultant in railway engineering and service companies.

News

Videos
¡Conoce los Nuevos Retos del Sector Ferroviario y la Movilidad Sostenible!
Visita al Centro de Control de Metro de Barcelona
Visita al centro de formación de Renfe de Hospitalet de Llobregat
Visita Centro de Operaciones de Rubí de FGC
Techtúlia: Vigencia y futuro de la Alta Velocidad en España

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2. Validate your curriculum vitae and attach any additional required documentation, whenever this is necessary for admission.

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Once the fee has been paid and we have all your documentation, we will assess your candidacy and, if you are admitted on the course, we will send you a letter of acceptance. This document will provide you with all the necessary information to formalize the enrolment process for the programme.




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