Railway engineering

Railway engineering is a multi-faceted engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction and operation of all types of rail transport systems. It includes a wide range of engineering disciplines, including(but not limited to) civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering and production engineering.

History

With the advent of the railways in the early nineteenth century, a need arose for specialized engineers capable of dealing with the unique problems associated with railway engineering. As the railways expanded and became a major part in logistics, more engineers became involved in the field, probably the most notable in Britain being Richard Trevithick, George Stephenson and Isambard Kingdom Brunel.^[1]

Subfields

Mechanical engineering
Electrical engineering
- Command, control & railway signalling
  - SCADA
  - Network design
Civil engineering
- Permanent way engineering
Railway systems engineering

Computer engineering
- Systems integration

Professional organisations

In the UK: The Railway Division of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
In the US: The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA)
In the Philippines: Philippine Railway Engineers' Association, (PREA) Inc.
Worldwide: The Institute of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE)

External links

References

^ "What is Railway Engineering". www.rcea.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-06-13.

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[1] "What is Railway Engineering". www.rcea.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-06-13.

[1]

v t e Rail infrastructure
Tracks (history)	Axe ties Ballast Baulk road Breather switch Cant Clip and scotch Date nail Fastening system Fishplate Ladder track Minimum radius Profile Tie/Sleeper Transition curve
Trackwork	Balloon loop Classification yard Headshunt Pocket track Junction Gauntlet track Guide bar Passing loop Track gauge dual gauge Rail track tramway track Rail yard Railway electrification overhead lines third rail ground-level power supply Railway turntable Transfer table (traverser) Roll way Siding refuge siding Switch Track geometry Water crane Water trough Wye
Signalling and safety	Anti-trespass panels Block post Buffer stop Catch points Defect detector Derailer Guard rail Interlocking Level crossing Loading gauge Platform screen doors Railway signal Signalling control Structure gauge Signal bridge Tell-tale Train stop Wayside horn
Structures	Coaling tower Motive power depot/Railway workshop Platform Roundhouse Shed for trains for goods Station building clock ghost list Water stop
Types	Industrial Military Private station list

v t e Railway track layouts
Railway track	Single track Passing loop Double track Quadruple track Crossover
Rail sidings	Balloon loop Headshunt Pocket track Refuge siding Rail yard Classification yard
Junctions	Flying junction Level junction Double junction Facing and trailing Grand union Grand circle / roundabout Wye Switch / turnout / points Swingnose crossing Level crossing
Stations	Railway platform Bay Island Side Split Terminal station Balloon loop Spanish solution Cross-platform interchange Interchange station Infill station
Hillclimbing	Horseshoe curve Zig Zag / Switchback Spiral
Track geometry	Track gauge Ruling gradient Minimum curve radius Cant Cant deficiency