Rail Operations and Maintenance

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.

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

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

• 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.

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.

For enquiries, please contact [email protected]