ENG5331 Railway engineering
Faculty of Engineering
ENG5331 Railway engineering is a level 5, 6-credit-point, undergraduate and postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 50%
- and 2 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ENG5331
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After ENG5331
No unit lists ENG5331 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
PREREQUISITES:
Enrolled in E3001 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours):
ENG2005 and a WAM of 65 or above at the conclusion of Level 3 and be in your final year to be eligible to enrol in the Level 5 unit.
Enrolled in a Master's course in engineering:
The unit assumes you have foundational knowledge in structural mechanics or solid mechanics.
Overview
The main subsystems for a functioning modern railway network such as the track system, the rolling stock, the power supply system, and the signal and control system will be described in this unit. It also covers the fundamental principles for planning and design of railway infrastructure. Various track geometry aspects and basic factors for track geometry and the selection of appropriate rolling stock will be explored based on international and national standards. Terminologies and new facts on track geometry and their relationship with train speed and rolling stock design will be introduced. It also covers the interaction between rail vehicles and infrastructure.
The types and components of rolling stock, dynamic interaction between a railway vehicle and a track system, and traffic loadings will be part of the discussions. Key issues and concepts relating to rolling stock design, maintenance and operations will be discussed. This unit also involves discussions on the fundamental wheel-rail interface engineering. Wheel and rail profiles from the point of vehicle guidance perspective and lateral instability will be discussed in this unit. Current developments in inspection and maintenance procedures for track and rolling stock components will be covered as part of this unit. The safety criterion of the railway vehicle against derailments and track instability will be discussed.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Weekly exerciseQuiz / TestThreshold hurdle10%
- AssignmentsProjectThreshold hurdle40%
- Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Describe the main subsystems in a modern railway network.
- 2
Formulate criteria to select track components and locomotive specifications.
- 3
Apply theories and fundamental principles for planning, design and maintenance of railway infrastructure.
- 4
Evaluate safety measures and regulations for railway systems, including track integrity, operations and risk assessments.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Practical activities24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachField trips
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester, typically comprising a mixture of 3 - 6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6 - 9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
You will actively study the theories, fundamental principles and standards related to railway engineering.
As part of learning, there will be opportunities to visit railway sites.
You will apply the technical contents to work on different railway engineering problems.
Learning resources
Required resources
Lecture notes from Moodle.
Recommended resources
Readings available in the Hargrave Library:
- V.A. Profilidis: Railway management and engineering (3rd Edition), 2006
- S. Iwnicki, M. Spiryagin, C. Cole, T. McSweeney: Handbook for railway vehicle dynamics (2nd Edition)
- AREMA Manual
- J. Waters, E. Selig: Track geotechnology and substructure management
Where it fits
ENG5331 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Asadul Haque
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Asadul Haque
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ENG5331?
ENG5331 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ENG5331 offered?
In 2026, ENG5331 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ENG5331?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ENG5331 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 50% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include ENG5331?
ENG5331 is part of Civil engineering, Environmental engineering and Transport.