UITP Academy is organizing a three-day classroom training on Rail Operations and Maintenance offers an integrated exploration of the critical systems, concepts, and practices that underpin safe, efficient, and customer-focused rail service delivery.

On the operations front, the course introduces participants to basic concepts of rail operations, including service planning, timetable structure, control centre functions, and real-time service execution. It also examines how operators manage day-to-day disruptions, operational resilience, and passenger communication to ensure reliability and customer satisfaction — especially under pressure.

From there, the programme transitions to maintenance and asset management, recognising that these are inseparable from operational performance. Participants will explore principles of lifecycle planning, maintenance strategies across asset types, cost drivers, and obsolescence challenges. The best international practices and real-world case studies will ground these topics in actionable insights.

As the rail sector evolves, the training also considers technological advancements, such as condition-based maintenance, real-time analytics, and predictive systems — and their implications for both operations and maintenance teams. Together, these elements form a well-rounded curriculum that equips participants to optimise performance, minimise disruptions, and enhance passenger outcomes.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this three-day training, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the key elements of public transport operations, including planning, service execution, incident response, and operational resilience
  • Plan and design rail infrastructure based on a timetable-driven service concept
  • Explain the fundamentals of asset management and apply its principles to facility and fleet maintenance planning
  • Apply lifecycle costing and planning across all categories of public transport assets
  • Develop and implement predictive maintenance strategies for facilities and fleets, using condition-based approaches
  • Estimate and schedule maintenance programs, ensuring reliability and service continuity
  • Prepare a comprehensive Transit Asset Management Plan and develop annual work plans
  • Develop and justify budgets and staffing plans that align with operational and maintenance priorities
  • Measure and evaluate the effectiveness of current maintenance and asset management programs
  • Assess the relative benefits and limitations of outsourced versus in-house maintenance models
  • Integrate human capital planning into asset management, considering skills, capacity, and workforce development
  • Manage maintenance teams, ensuring safety, performance, and adaptability in evolving contexts
  • Understand the implications of big data, digitalisation, and real-time analytics for enhancing maintenance and operations efficiency

Who is it for?

  • Incumbent and new managers, supervisors, and coordinators from the following areas and departments: Maintenance, Fleet, Facilities, Operations, Planning, Finance
  • Staff from public transport operators, authorities, or the industry
  • Professionals interested in obtaining a wider and international perspective on maintenance and asset management and eager to learn more from best practice worldwide
  • The course welcomes junior and senior professionals worldwide.

Programme

Welcome & Introduction to the course & Ice breaking

08:30 09:15
Session 1
  • UITP Studies and other relevant reports
  • Asia-Pacific Case Studies

Coffee break

10:00 10:30

Yarra Trams Case study: Improving Melbourne’s Tram Services Through APC and Mobile GPS Data Analysis

10:30 11:00

Regional Developments in Rail

11:00 11:30
Session 3
  • What are PT determinants and how they affect operation planning and execution?
  • Route and Network Planning
  • Timetables – Level of Services (Los)
  • Planning of operations – Personnel and vehicles
  • Control Center Structure and Functions
  • Emergency Case Management

Lunch

12:30 13:30
Session 4
  • Organisation and chain of command
  • Quality of service
  • Degraded modes / Incident Management
  • Alternative Operation Planning
  • Performance of operations-KPI
  • Crowd Management
Session 5A

PART 1:

  • Asset management principles: managing and maintaining fleet, buildings, systems, and people assets
  • Asset typology, management & life cycle
  • Role of maintenance in Operation
  • Maintenance principles, levels, planning and programmes (preventive, corrective, predictive)
  • Organisation of maintenance
  • Performance management (Operation and maintenance)
  • Defining and Selection KPI’s
  • Monitoring KPI and action planning

Coffee break

15:00 16:00
Session 5B

PART 2:

  • From planning to execution – EAM supporting tools
  • Track servicing, inspection and repair
  • Power supply
  • Stations
  • Structures
  • Control Command
  • Organisation Challenges

A Top Level Methodology

  • Get inspired by our trainers, understand the main concepts and learn from successful best practice
  • Participate in interactive plenary sessions with introductions by course leaders, presentations by trainers, and open discussions with participants
  • Challenge your practical knowledge on maintenance and asset management
  • Address the topic from an international perspective, enriched by different cultural approaches and points of view
  • Participate to practical exercises and case studies
  • Benefit from a unique exchange of knowledge and experience between professionals

UITP Training Programs and all related processes are certified for ISO 21001: 2018 – the standard for Educational organisations – Management systems for educational organisations.

Eurocert EQC International Logo
EQC Germany Logo
ISO Logo

Pricing

Until 31 October
From 1 November
Groups
4 or more persons

UITP Member

€1,375

€1,850

€1,290

Non Members

€1,775

€2,450

€1,690

€975

€1,375

€950

€1,225

€1,700

€1,150

Trainers

All UITP trainers are top-level transport and mobility professionals with extensive experience in public transport and operations from different regions of the world. In addition, UITP invites guest speakers to illustrate specific solutions, practices, and case studies.

Atefeh MOGHADDAM

System Configuration Workpackage Leader,
Siemens Mobility, France

Graham NEIL

Railway Consultant, United Kingdom

Vefa ÖZBEY

Chief of Operations – Driverless Metro
Metro Istanbul, Turkey

Takehiko YAMAJI

Deputy Director, International Affairs Headquarters
JR East Singapore, Singapore

Ian HOPKINS

Head of Network Planning and Development
Yarra Trams, Australia

Tianwei YIN

Advisor, Patronage Data
Yarra Trams, Australia

Sue CHAN

Head of UITP Australia & New Zealand
Membership & Global Operations, Australia

Practical information

When and where?

24-26 Nov 2025 in Melbourne, Australia

Yarra Trams’ Tram Hub – Level 3, 555 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

All classroom sessions will start at 8:30am Melbourne Time and technical visit will start at 9:00am (UTC+11)

*UITP reserves the right to make amendments to the programme or any related activity at its discretion.

Hotel Recommendation

Clarion Suites Gateway

Address: 1 William Street, 3000 Melbourne, Australia (8 mins walk to training venue)

Vibe Hotel Melbourne

Address: 1 Queen Street, 3000 Melbourne (11 mins walk to the training venue)

What material do I receive?

  • Access to UITP MyAcademy Learning Management System (LMS)
  • Course materials (presentations and workshop documents) are made available to the participants
  • Certificate of Attendance

How does it work?

  • A 3-days classroom course with presentations and case studies by trainers, discussions with the audience and technical visit
  • Morning and afternoon sessions including coffee breaks and lunch break
  • The course will be conducted in English

Register Now

Register online and secure your place

Organisers

UITP Academy

Local Host