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Graduate Diploma in Railway Engineering

The Graduate Diploma in Railway Engineering addresses the increasing need for skilled professionals in Singapore’s rapidly expanding rail network. This specialised programme provides participants with advanced expertise in key areas such as Railway Trackworks and Railway Planning and Operations.

Guided by TUM’s renowned faculty and experienced industry experts from Germany, participants acquire practical, multidisciplinary knowledge essential for excelling in the evolving railway engineering sector. The comprehensive curriculum equips them with the skills needed to thrive in a field vital to modern infrastructure, positioning graduates as valuable contributors to the global rail industry.

Highlights

Learn and Benefit from German Experts

Modules are taught by TUM professors and industry specialists, who travel from Germany to teach exclusively in Singapore.

Focused Learning with Block Teaching System

Benefit from high quality instructional time in small class settings, allowing intensive learning for deeper understanding of each subject.

German Engineering, Asian Relevance

Our lecturers work closely with the industry partners, integrating real-world examples into their lessons to enhance practical learning.

Meet Singapore’s Growing Railway Industry Needs

Apply your newly acquired knowledge directly within your company for immediate impact, with guidance and support from our lecturers.

Tailored Learning, Designed for Your Growth

Flexible modules designed to align with your career goals. Select modules that suit your career aspirations, enabling you to specialise in areas most relevant to your professional growth.

Programme Structure

The programme offers modules in key areas such as rolling stock, rail transport and planning, trackwork, train control, and signalling systems. It also covers the design and operation of modern transport systems, including integrated inter-modal management. This structure provides a comprehensive understanding of the railway engineering field, preparing you for real-world challenges.

Upon successful completion of all 6 core modules, you will be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Railway Engineering.

Modules Available

Ballastless Track Systems

This module provides the requirements and procedures for ballastless track system design for high-speed and conventional mainline rail infrastructure, the special features of Metro and light rail systems, the train track interactions, the track lay-out and alignment for urban rail systems, the track cross section design including trackside equipment, the sources, propagation and effects of noise and vibrations, the measures to control and to counteract noise and vibration, the design of special floating slab tracks, the environmental impacts, the design of green tracks, the design and construction of tram-tracks, the embedded track systems. Metro and light rail, noise and vibration, floating slab track, embedded track, tram tracks, open tracks.

Public Transport Planning

This module will give an introduction to public transport planning. The module will start with a discussion about the advantages / disadvantages and the functional characteristics of transit modes and their capacity. The geometry and types of transit lines and transit networks are the following topics. How to organize transfers and increase the transit speed to improve the passenger convenience and the efficiency of the public transport network are also topics discussed in this module. The introduction to public transport scheduling is the last topic in this module. The objective of this module is to provide in-depth knowledge about the planning and organizing of public transport networks.

Rail Transport and Rail Planning

This module introduces the general requirements and procedures for rail infrastructure planning based on the running behaviour and the performance of rail vehicles. The module is discussing the specific wheel-rail interface, the effective forces guiding the wheel sets (equivalent conicity), the determination and evaluation of track quality, the requirements for designing track alignment and layout, the tools to determine cant and cant deficiency, the procedures to design transition elements, the tilting train technology, the operational demands and respective track arrangements for passenger, freight and operational stations. Requirements to ensure passenger comfort and safety are introduced. Train-track interaction, track quality, safety, passenger comfort and wear, station layout, cross-section design.

Rolling Stock

This module covers the wheel-rail interaction, running behaviour in curves and straight track, propulsion systems diesel, electricity AC and DC, energy efficiency including regenerative braking, running gear and vehicle construction, including primary and secondary suspension devices, wheelsets, bogie frames and body shells relevant norms and design rules, tendering procedure and homologation process, safety issues as collision safety derailment safety, fire safety, environmental aspects as external and internal noise, particle emission, space consumption, reliability, availability, maintainability, diagnosis systems and their environment and benefit. Wheel-rail interaction, bogie frames/suspension, EMU and DMM, risk analysis and safety, environmental issues.

Trackworks

This module provides an understanding of the forces acting between vehicle and track, the load distribution within the track superstructure into the substructure (Earthworks or civil structure) as well as the environmental impacts on the track performance, the respective general requirements for the design and the construction of rail infrastructure. In addition, this module will cover the rail track engineering required for the track design, the construction, the maintenance and the renewal of tracks for a variety of rail infrastructures (conventional and high speed). Conceptual design and structural performance of conventional and ballastless track systems will be discussed too. Track loading (static and dynamic impacts), track maintenance, environmental impacts, track stability.

Train Control and Signalling Systems

This module introduces to the students to train control and signalling systems. The benefits and challenges of techniques used will be analysed. Turnout, signals, and all track based equipment, facilities, electronic interlocking and train control systems will be covered too. Risk analysis and assessment of electronic systems and management of train scheduling and transport risk will be discussed.

Rail Traffic Planning and Optimization (Elective Module)

The module provides an introduction to rail traffic planning and management. It introduces key processes and techniques for infrastructure optimization, capacity planning, robust timetabling, as well delay management and disruption handling. In the course students will learn about the interdependency between infrastructure, supply planning, timetabling, and traffic management and how it affects the performance of rail systems. Concepts to improve the stability and punctuality of rail traffic will be discussed and control strategies for optimizing both metro and major rail systems are presented. The objective of the course is to familiarize students with key problems in planning and organizing rail traffic, and to gain hands-on experience in applying state-of-the-art methods and solution approaches for railway timetabling, capacity planning, and traffic management.

Who Should Attend

Professionals and individuals with an interest in the following fields (but not limited to) are encouraged to apply:

Railway Engineering
Transportation
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
General Engineering

Admission Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a relevant field, preferably in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or General Engineering, is required. However, applicants from other fields may also be considered.

Applicants who do not meet the formal entry requirements may still be considered based on:

At least 5 years of relevant work experience, or
Supporting evidence of competency readiness.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to attend an interview. TUM Asia reserves the right to select and admit applicants.

Certification

Participants will be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Railway Engineering upon successful completion of all 6 core modules.

An elective module on “Rail Traffic Planning and Optimization” is available, which, if completed, will be noted as an additional module on your transcript and diploma certificate.

Note:

Transcripts for individual module examinations can be issued to the participants upon request.

Stacking to a Master’s degree:

You have the flexibility to upgrade to the Master’s degree programme, with the option to stack your completed modules towards a Master of Science in Rail and Urban Transport.

Testimonials

“My experience at the TUM Asia has been truly transformative, both academically and personally. The university provides a dynamic environment that encourages critical thinking, creativity, and personal growth, particularly in the field of railway engineering. The professors are not only experts in their fields but also dedicated mentors who genuinely care about their students’ success. Their support and guidance have played a significant role in shaping my academic journey.

Thanks to the exceptional education and hands-on experiences I’ve gained at TUM Asia, especially in railway engineering, I feel confident and well-equipped for the professional world. I am deeply grateful for all the opportunities this institution has provided, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a challenging yet supportive academic environment”.

Schedule

Module	Date
RE101: Rail Transport and Rail Planning	4th quarter of 2025
RE102: Trackworks	3 – 7 Mar 2025 & 10 – 14 Mar 2025
RE103: Ballastless Track Systems	17 – 21 Mar 2025 & 24 – 28 Mar 2025
RE201: Public Transport Planning	26 – 30 May 2025 & 2 – 6 Jun 2025
RE202: Train Control and Signalling Systems	1 – 4 Apr 2025 & 7 – 11 Apr 2025
RE203: Rolling Stock	3rd quarter of 2025
Rail Traffic Planning & Optimization (Elective Module)	9 – 13 Jun & 16 – 20 Jun 2025

Professors

Prof. Dr. Norman Weik

Mr. Mahesh Hariharan

Dr. rer. nat. Andreas Kaldenbach

Dr. Michael Leining

Dr.-Ing. Andreas Rau

Dr.-Ing. Bernhard Lechner

Prof. Dr.-Ing Markus Hecht

Fees

Type	Fees
Full fee for the Graduate Diploma programme (6 modules)	SGD 11,510.40
Full fee for the Graduate Diploma programme and additional elective module (7 modules)	SGD 13,428.80