ZT
Traction power & energyCourse Lead
Dr Zhongbei Tian
Associate Professor in Transport Energy Systems
Dr Zhongbei Tian
Associate Professor in Transport Energy Systems
Traction power & energy
× Zenith Railway Academy
Zenith Railway Academy
Executive Rail Education
CPD Module · University of Birmingham × ZRA · CPD 04
Railway Electrification & Traction Systems.
A CPD module co-delivered by the University of Birmingham and Zenith Railway Academy — built for electrification engineers, traction-power specialists, rolling-stock engineers and energy leaders specifying, designing and optimising modern rail traction systems.
UoB
Russell Group
1 Week
5 days intensive
UK & Live Online
Birmingham campus
Feb 2027
Next cohort
No application fee · 24-hour response · Limited cohort — institutional nominations get priority
QS World Ranking
Top 100
Programme delivered with
University of Birmingham × Zenith Railway Academy
Russell Group · BCRRE · UK · GCC · India · Africa
15,000+
Rail professionals trained
University of BirminghamZenith Railway AcademyRussell GroupCPD CertifiedBCRREUK CampusLive Online
Overview
A practitioner CPD module, built around real rail delivery.
This CPD module develops the technical knowledge, analytical skills and practical know-how required to specify, assess and optimise railway traction and electrification systems for different train types, route topologies and service patterns.
Participants examine the complete energy pathway — from the national grid or an alternative power source to the traction machines that produce train movement — covering AC and DC electrification, diesel, battery and hydrogen-based systems, alongside onboard power conversion, storage, monitoring, maintenance, safety and sustainability.
Dates
Feb 2027
5 intensive days
Venue
UoB UK Campus
Also delivered Live Online
Format
Blended
Lectures · calculations · modelling
Cohort
Mid–Senior
OHE · Traction · Rolling stock
Investment
$ 1,500
Joint CPD certification
Stay
Optional $ 500
5 nights · breakfast · shuttle
Why this programme
The need is urgent.
The opportunity is career-defining.
Every major railway is electrifying or decarbonising — and every operator is short on traction and electrification engineers.
$210B
global rail electrification & decarbonisation capex 2025–2035
18,000+
route-km of new electrification underway across the Commonwealth alone
72%
of railways plan battery / hybrid / hydrogen fleet trials by 2030
Top 3
most in-demand rail engineering specialisms (UITP 2025 workforce report)
The Industry Need
The industry need
Net-zero targets, capacity growth and grid decarbonisation are pushing every operator, IM, OEM and consultant to hire or reskill traction, OHE and traction-power engineers. Battery, hydrogen and hybrid fleets are moving from pilot to programme — but the sector still trains fewer than 10% of the electrification specialists it needs annually.
- 01Grid-to-wheel electrification programmes on mainline & regional networks
- 02AC/DC substation upgrades, sectioning & feeder redesigns
- 03Battery, hybrid, hydrogen fleet introductions & depot electrification
- 04Regenerative braking, energy management & carbon reporting mandates
The Career Opportunity
The career opportunity
Engineers who can specify AC/DC architectures, dimension traction & braking, and model duty cycles are being promoted into head-of-discipline and package-lead roles across capital programmes.
Principal Electrification / OHE EngineerChief Traction Power EngineerHead of Rolling Stock EngineeringRail Decarbonisation LeadTraction Systems Design ManagerGrid & Substation Integration Lead
Written for practitioners · designed for immediate transfer to the workplace
Outcomes at a glance
Outcomes your engineering board will recognise.
This is not a generic CPD short course. Every learning outcome maps onto the University of Birmingham competency framework — a summary view is shown here; the full assessed list appears in the Curriculum section below.
01
Drivetrain Evaluation
Evaluate alternative drivetrain arrangements in terms of efficiency, environmental acceptability and economic sustainability.
02
Duty-Cycle Modelling
Digitally model power and energy requirements of a train based on duty cycle, route and service specification.
03
Prime-Mover Selection
Select an appropriate prime mover, power source and power-transmission arrangement to meet operational requirements.
04
Traction Simulation
Create and apply digital models to simulate energy use, efficiency, acceleration, braking and overall traction performance.
05
Dimensioning
Dimension traction and braking systems to achieve required acceleration and deceleration rates.
06
AC/DC Architecture
Assess and select AC or DC traction-power architectures, including overhead and ground-level electrification.
07
Alternative Traction
Evaluate diesel, battery, hydrogen, hybrid and externally supplied electric traction for different railway applications.
08
Monitoring & Control
Select sensing, monitoring and control technologies for safe, efficient operation of trains and infrastructure.
09
Safety & Sustainability
Analyse the safety and sustainability of traction systems, power supplies and energy-storage arrangements.
10
Hazard Mitigation
Identify and mitigate risks from electromagnetic fields, interference, touch voltages and return currents.
Curriculum
A 5-day intensive. Everything you cover. Everything you can do.
AM frameworks with Birmingham faculty. PM application, calculations and digital modelling with industry practitioners. A capstone on Day 05 maps every theme onto a live case from participants' own systems.
Part A
Day-by-day schedule
5 intensive days · Indicative course content
Day 01
Foundations & Architecture
7 hrs contact
AM · Frameworks
Traction-System Fundamentals
- Train resistance, adhesion & tractive effort
- Acceleration, braking & duty cycles
- Service-performance requirements
PM · Application
Electrification Architecture
- AC & DC electrification systems
- Grid connections & traction substations
- Feeder arrangements, sectioning, network architecture
Day 02
Supply & Distribution
7 hrs contact
AM · Frameworks
Overhead & Ground-Level Supply
- Overhead contact systems & current collection
- Conductor rails & ground-level electrification
- System interfaces & application considerations
PM · Application
Traction Power Distribution
- Transformers, rectifiers, switchgear, protection
- Earthing & return-current systems
- Power distribution to trains
Day 03
Onboard Systems & Power
7 hrs contact
AM · Frameworks
Onboard Traction Systems
- Traction motors, converters, inverters
- Control systems & drivetrain arrangements
- Transmission of traction & braking forces
PM · Application
Alternative Power Sources
- Diesel, battery, hydrogen, hybrid traction
- Onboard & trackside energy storage
- Trade-offs across service profiles
Day 04
Dimensioning, Energy & Modelling
7 hrs contact
AM · Frameworks
Traction & Braking Dimensioning
- Tractive effort & deceleration calculations
- Regenerative braking
- System-performance validation
PM · Application
Energy Management, Efficiency & Digital Modelling
- Regenerative-energy recovery & power demand
- Duty-cycle & traction-power models
- Energy consumption & network loading
Day 05
Safety, Monitoring & Emerging Tech
7 hrs contact
AM · Frameworks
Monitoring, Control & Maintenance
- Sensors & condition monitoring
- Control algorithms & predictive maintenance
- Asset-performance management
PM · Application
Electrical Safety, EMC & Emerging Technologies
- Electromagnetic fields, interference
- Touch/step voltages, bonding, earthing
- Smart grids, renewables & digital traction-power
Part B
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, participants will be able to:
10 assessed outcomes
LO 01Drivetrain Evaluation
Evaluate alternative drivetrain arrangements in terms of efficiency, environmental acceptability and economic sustainability.
LO 02Duty-Cycle Modelling
Digitally model power and energy requirements of a train based on duty cycle, route and service specification.
LO 03Prime-Mover Selection
Select an appropriate prime mover, power source and power-transmission arrangement to meet operational requirements.
LO 04Traction Simulation
Create and apply digital models to simulate energy use, efficiency, acceleration, braking and overall traction performance.
LO 05Dimensioning
Dimension traction and braking systems to achieve required acceleration and deceleration rates.
LO 06AC/DC Architecture
Assess and select AC or DC traction-power architectures, including overhead and ground-level electrification.
LO 07Alternative Traction
Evaluate diesel, battery, hydrogen, hybrid and externally supplied electric traction for different railway applications.
LO 08Monitoring & Control
Select sensing, monitoring and control technologies for safe, efficient operation of trains and infrastructure.
LO 09Safety & Sustainability
Analyse the safety and sustainability of traction systems, power supplies and energy-storage arrangements.
LO 10Hazard Mitigation
Identify and mitigate risks from electromagnetic fields, interference, touch voltages and return currents.
AM Frameworks
PM Application
Assessment: joint UoB × ZRA CPD certificate on completion
Methodology
Designed for senior practitioners. Built for transfer.
Lecture is the smallest part of the module. Every framework is paired with a workshop that maps the concept onto participants' own systems — so the conversation on Monday morning is already different.
01
Interactive expert-led lectures
Frameworks from Birmingham faculty and senior industry practitioners.
02
International case studies
Real programmes across UK, GCC, Africa and India — dissected in class.
03
Digital modelling & simulation
Hands-on modelling exercises that map onto participants' own systems.
04
Team-based design activities
System selection and design challenges resolved as a cohort.
05
Industry guest sessions
Live sessions with operators, OEMs and regulators.
06
Applied problem-solving
Group discussion mapped to participants' own programmes.
Tools you leave with
Duty-Cycle ModelsSubstation Load FlowRegen Braking SimOHE Design ToolsFIDIC Clause LibraryReturn-Current AnalyzersBattery/H₂ Trade-Off ModelsEMC Assessments
Faculty
Taught by the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research & Education (BCRRE).
The University of Birmingham hosts one of the world's largest railway research groups. The faculty below — drawn directly from the BCRRE academic staff — lead this CPD module, joined in the afternoon workshops by senior industry practitioners.
Source
Faculty list reflects the published BCRRE Academic Staff directory at the University of Birmingham. Course lead confirmed at cohort commencement; guest lecturers rotate by cohort.
Who should attend
Built for the people who own the system.
Mid to senior professionals with 5–20 years of experience in the railway sector, or broader infrastructure leaders moving into rail. Cohort intentionally cross-regional.
Cohort spansUKIndiaGCCAfricaSE Asia
Electrification Engineers
Overhead-Line Equipment Specialists
Traction-Power Engineers
Rolling-Stock Engineers
Electrical Systems Engineers
Energy Specialists
Maintenance Professionals
Rail Project Personnel
Corporate nominations
Send a team. Move the whole discipline forward.
Operators, IMs, OEMs, contractors and consultancies routinely nominate cohorts of engineers into the UoB × ZRA CPD ladder. Group nominations unlock consolidated invoicing, tiered fee support, and — at 10+ — a private cohort option built around your programme.
Small team
5% fee support
Group invoice · substitution allowed
On $ 1,500 base fee
Team cohort
10% fee support
1 free counselling session for L&D lead
On $ 1,500 base fee
Institutional
15% fee support
Private cohort option · tailored capstone
On $ 1,500 base fee
What institutional nominations get
6 benefits
Priority seat allocation
Institutional nominations are confirmed first, before the public cohort opens.
Consolidated invoicing
Single institutional PO / invoice for all nominated participants, in USD or local currency.
Substitution flexibility
Participants can be substituted up to two weeks before the module starts.
Private cohorts available
For 10+ nominations, we can run a private UoB × ZRA cohort on your timelines.
Tailored capstone
The Day 05 capstone can be scoped around a live project from your organisation.
L&D reporting
Named attendance, completion and outcome reports for your L&D and HR systems.
Nominate a teamRequest an institutional briefing
Private cohorts · 5–25 participants · on your timeline
Investment
Module Fee (USD)
$ 1,500
per participant · all-inclusive
Fee is inclusive of teaching, all module materials, digital modelling tools access during the module, refreshments through the classroom sessions and joint CPD certification from the University of Birmingham and Zenith Railway Academy.
Training
Full 5-day module · all materials
Assessment
CPD assessment & joint certification
Catering
Lunch + refreshments on UK campus days
Certification
UoB × ZRA joint CPD certificate
Optional Stay
$ 500 (USD)
Optional on-campus accommodation · 5 nights · breakfast · shuttle
Group Invoicing
Institutional multi-participant nominations can be invoiced centrally. See Corporate Nominations above for tiered fee support.
Cohort Size
Intentionally small — limited seats protect workshop quality and peer-to-peer time on this CPD module.
Priority
Institutional nominations get priority. Early registration is strongly advised — seats confirmed on advance payment.
Ask about Railway Electrification & Traction Systems
We will match you to the right free course or certification route.