Master's degree in Railway System and Electrical Drive

Modules

The master’s degree is divided into the modules described below.

If you do not wish to take the entire master’s degree, you can enrol in one or more modules.

• Railway Service Vehicles and Operation External link Face-to-face postgraduate course. Vilanova i la Geltrú
• Railway Facilities External link Face-to-face postgraduate course. Vilanova i la Geltrú
• Railway Service Operation and Use External link Face-to-face continuing education course. Vilanova i la Geltrú
• Railway Vehicles External link Face-to-face continuing education course. Vilanova i la Geltrú
• Electrification and Energy External link Face-to-face continuing education course. Vilanova i la Geltrú
• Signalling, Communication and Traffic Management External link Face-to-face continuing education course. Vilanova i la Geltrú

Subjects

1. Railway Systems - 3 ECTS credits
2. Communications for Railways - 3 ECTS credits
3. Electricity and Mechanics for Railways - 3 ECTS credits
4. Railway Infrastructure - 3 ECTS credits
5. Intercity High-Speed and Passenger Services - 3 ECTS credits
6. Railway Signalling - 3 ECTS credits
7. Electric Traction - 3 ECTS credits
8. Rolling Stock Elements  
9. Engineering and Maintenance
10. Railway Infrastructure
11. Trains and Energy
12. Substations and Networks
13. Electrification and Overhead Lines
14. Communications for Railways
15. Train Protection Systems
16. Technical Operation of Railway Infrastructure
17. Design and Management of New Railway Lines
18. Master’s Thesis  

Content of the subjects

Academic director

• Perat Benavides, Ignasi
  

  Ignasi Perat has a PhD in Engineering from the UPC. He is a professor at the UPC’s Department of Electronic Engineering and a member of the Electronically Commutated Motor Drives Group (GAECE).

Teaching staff

• Altaba Marín, Iván
  

  Iván Altaba has a degree in Industrial Engineering from the UPC. He is the head of the Department of Low-Voltage Projects and Station Equipment, Systems and Remote Control at Ferrocarril Metropolità de Barcelona S.A. He is a specialist in high-voltage electrical distribution systems, substations and railway electrification.

• Altesa Cabanas, Jaume
  

  Jaume Altesa has a degree in Industrial Engineering from the UPC. He works as an innovation and development engineer at Alstom Transporte’s premises in Santa Perpetua de Mogoda. He was a mechanical engineer in rolling stock manufacturing projects for nine years. He currently focuses on innovation and development activities related to comfort, ergonomics, virtual reality and industrial improvement.

• Andrada Gascón, Pedro
  

  Pedro Andrada has a degree and a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the UPC. He has been the head of the Electronically Commutated Motor Drives Group (GAECE) at the UPC since 2004. Currently his main research interest is the development of hybrid reluctance motor drives and new, high-performance electric traction drives.

• Arqués Patón, Josep Lluis
  

  Josep Lluis Arqués has a PhD in Industrial Engineering. He took an executive education programme at the IESE Business School. He was the director of Technology and Management, the director of Technology and Maintenance and a technical director at Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya and is currently a rolling stock and RAMS advisor at IDOM.

• Barrón de Angoiti, Iñaki
  

  Iñaki Barrón has an executive education MBA from the IESE Business School in Madrid. He has a degree in Civil Engineering from the UPC. He was the head of the Department of Passengers, High Speed and Stations and coordinator for Latin America at the International Union of Railways (UIC) in Paris.

• Berrios Villalba, Antonio
  

  Antonio Berrios has a degree in Industrial Electronics and Automatic Control and diplomas in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He took a postgraduate diploma in Management at the UPM. He has been a manager of the Energy Assets Engineering Area at ADIF and chairman of the Energy Management Sector RSF at the International Union of Railways (UIC).

• Blanqué Molina, Balduí
  

  Balduí Blanqué has a degree in Telecommunications and Electronics and a PhD from the UPC. He has been head of section at the Department of Electrical Engineering at the EPSEVG (UPC) since 2010. He has been the coordinator of the master’s degree in Automatic Systems Engineering and Industrial Electronics (MUESAI) since 2014. He is a specialist in agile project management methodologies. He currently teaches as an associate professor at the EPSEVG and the ETSEIB, where he applies his knowledge of signal control and digital processing and the simulation and testing of high-performance electric drives.

• Comellas Oliva, Josep
  

  Josep Comelles has a degree in Civil Engineering from the UPC and an MBA from ESADE. He is the head of Infrastructure at Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat de Catalunya for railways and ski stations.

• Coves Moreno, Jordi
  

  Jordi Coves has a degree in Industrial Engineering and a master’s degree in Construction Business Management from the UPC. He is currently the manager of Railway Systems and Electrification at IDOM. In the past, he has worked at COMSA and Montajes Guinovart.

• Cuesta i Cuesta, Josep Maria
  

  Josep Maria Cuesta holds a diploma in Electronics from the ETSET in Tarragona. He is the head of the Signalling Maintenance Area and FAP, ATP and ATO systems at Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat de Catalunya, and a member of the ERTMS sector committee.

• Domínguez Saura, Enric
  

  Enric Domínguez holds a diploma in Electrical Machines from the UPC. He has master’s degrees in Business Administration and Management from the Catalan Institute of Technology (ICT) and Occupational Health and Safety from the UPC. He is the director of Projects at SENER, INGENIERÍA Y SISTEMAS, S.A.

• Enguix Peiró, Joan Carles
  

  Joan Carles Enguix has a degree in Transport Geography from the UB and a diploma in Industrial Engineering from the UPC. He took an advanced course in Land Transport at the FFE. He holds a master’s degree in Mobility Planning and Management from the UPC. He has a diploma in Management of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises from the FPE. He was a European financial advisor at the EFPA. He works as a specialist in Railway Operation at SENER, Ingeniería y Sistemas, S.A., Barcelona division, Communications and Software section.

• Esquius Rafat, Andreu
  

  Andreu Esquius holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the UPC (1992), with specialisations in Transport and Spatial Planning. He is a partner and assistant director of MCRIT SL, a consulting firm that advises government and large public and private enterprises.

• Ferré Oltra, Anna
  

  Anna Ferré has a degree in Geology from the University of Barcelona and a master’s degree in Infrastructure from the UPC. She is the head of Infrastructure Maintenance at Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

• Fonseca Teixeira, Paulo F.
  

  Paulo F. Fonseca has a PhD in Civil Engineering from the UPC. He is an assistant professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon. He led various international research projects (for the EU and for the ministries of Science of Portugal and Spain) and he has been a member of various scientific committees on railways (UIC, EURNEX, FFE). He has led and worked as a consultant in projects for several administrations and railway bodies.

• García Álvarez, Alberto
  

  Alberto García has a PhD in Economic and Business Sciences from the UAM and a PhD in Transport Engineering and Infrastructure from the UPC. He also holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the ICAI. He has a degree in Law from the UNED and took the Business Management Programme (PADE) at the IESE. He is the managing director of the Spanish Railway Foundation and was previously the general manager of Renfe Viajeros, S.A.

• García Fuertes, Pilar
  

  Pilar García has a degree in Contemporary History from the UAB and master’s degrees in Museology and Heritage Management and Coaching and Leadership from the University of Barcelona. At Renfe she worked as the head of Communication for Catalonia and for Madrid, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and León; manager of Stations; and manager of the Transverse Corridor and the Mediterranean Corridor, during which time she was responsible for implementing the EUROMED service. She is currently the director of the Railway Museum of Catalonia.

• García García, Oscar
  

  Oscar García has a diploma in Industrial Engineering and an Industrial Safety qualification from the Ministry of Labour. He is responsible for Railway Traffic Control Facilities. At ADIF he is the director of Works and Projects for commuter trains in Barcelona (Catalonia) and the high-speed segments Lleida-Barcelona Sants-French border.

• Gelí Mollfulleda, Carles
  

  Carles Gelí has a degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the UPC and an MBA from ESADE. He is the head of Engineering at Electrans. In the past, he has worked at Ficosa Internacional and Altran Technologies.

• González Franco, Ignacio
  

  Ignacio González has a PhD in Transport Engineering and Infrastructure from the UPC, a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Vigo and a master’s degree in Railway Systems from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas. He has worked as a researcher in RDI at the Spanish Railway Foundation since 2009 and, since 2012, has coordinated the Transport Energy and Emissions Study and Research Group and the Transport Economics and Operations Group.

• Jiménez Redondo, José Antonio
  

  José Antonio Jiménez has a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the UPM and a degree in Business Management from the IESE at the University of Navarra. He is the former general manager of Renfe Fabricación y Mantenimiento, S.A./p>

• Julià Perich, Óscar
  

  Óscar Julià has a degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the UPC and the Ecole Française d’Electronique et d’Informatique in Paris. He took an executive education programme at the IESE. He is the director of the Catalonia division of SENER, INGENIERÍA Y SISTEMAS, S.A.

• Juncadella i Fortuny, Oriol
  

  Oriol Juncadella has a degree in Civil Engineering from the UPC. He took an executive education programme at the IESE. He is the director of FGC Operadora, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya. He currently represents the FGC in various government and civil society committees, commissions and accessibility and mobility initiatives.

• Lillo Font, Antoni
  

  Antoni Lillo has a degree in Engineering and training in business management. He has pursued a career in the public and private sectors for over 30 years, during which he has occupied managerial roles both nationally and internationally. He has longstanding experience in the railway and aeronautical sectors. He is currently a business consultant and business owner.

• López Gómez, José Luis
  

  José Luis López has a diploma in Engineering from the Instituto Católico de Artes e Industrias (ICAI) in Madrid. He is a technical advisor to the chair of Patentes Talgo. He has been the head of Workshops in Barcelona and Madrid, director of Engineering for Workshops, technical director of Patentes Talgo and general manager of Technology (Innovation and Development), a post that he held until his retirement. He received a European Inventor Award after being chosen by the jury and the popular vote. He received a medal of honour from the García Cabrerizo Foundation. He has filed various patents.

• Martín Merino, Félix A
  

  Félix A. Martín is the director of Rodalies de Catalunya. He holds a diploma in Business Management from the IESE, a diploma in Marketing from the EADA and a diploma in Logistics from the ICIL. In his career, he has held positions of responsibility at Renfe Mercancías, as a manager of less-than-carload freight, and Renfe Viajeros, as the manager of the Northeast-Mediterranean Market Area and the manager of Tranverse Services, among others.

• Martín Cañizares, Mª del Pilar
  

  Maria del Pilar Martín has a PhD in Transport Engineering and Infrastructure from the UPC and a degree in Informatics Engineering from the ICAI. She has a postgraduate diploma in Railway Engineering from the UNED. She has been a research project manager at the Spanish Railway Foundation and currently works for the Office of the General Manager at Renfe Viajeros.

• Paret, David
  

  David Paret has a degree in Geology from the University of Barcelona. He is the head of Railway Infrastructure Projects at Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

• Perlasia Giol, José
  

  José Perlasia has a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the UPC and a master’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety from the UAB and the UPC. At Renfe, he held posts in Electrification, Materials and Traction, Construction of Terminals, Transport, Accident and Incident Inspection and Traffic Safety. He worked at IDOM Ingeniería y Sistemas and in Studies and Projects at SECURITEC, in Madrid, and has experience in self-protection plants and auditing.

• Pérez Gómez, Jaume
  

  Jaume Pérez has a diploma in Business Science. He is a safety manager for Barcelona Metro. He has previously worked as the head of the Metro Control Centre and operations head of Traffic.

• Playà Velasco, Òscar
  

  Òscar Playà has a degree in Industrial Engineering from the UPC. He is currently an infrastructure project manager at TMB and he has previously worked as a project coordinator at TMB and a project manager at Nokia.

• Puigdollers Zanon, Oscar
  

  Oscar Puigdollers has a degree in Industrial Engineering. He has worked at TMB, where he held various posts, including head of Studies and Projects. He is the current head of RDI, Studies, Knowledge and Customer Service at the company Barcelona de Serveis Municipals.

• Rull Duran, Joan
  

  Joan Rull has a PhD in Industrial Engineering and is an associate professor at the UPC’s Department of Electrical Engineering. Over the last 15 years, he has contributed to railway electrification software and studies in the framework of university-business collaboration agreements at the UPC.

• Ruiz Cantí, Javier
  

  Javier Ruiz has a diploma in Industrial Engineering from the UPC. He is currently a training specialist at the Renfe Operadora Professional School of Driving and Operations.

• Sarabia Vives, Carlos
  

  Carlos Sarabia has a degree in Civil Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. He also has a degree in Economics from the UNED. He is head of Maintenance for Barcelona at the Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF).

• Sánchez López, Josep Anton
  

  Josep Anton Sánchez has a diploma in Electricity and a degree in Industrial Scheduling Engineering from the UPC. He has worked in industry in various posts in maintenance departments and he is currently a university school associate professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering. As a member of the Electronically Commutated Motor Drives Group (GAECE) he focuses on drive fault detection.

• Sanz Junoy, Ignacio
  

  Ignacio Sanz has a degree in Economic and Business Sciences, with a specialisation in Business Organisation, from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. He has a master’s degree in Industrial Economics (Transport Economics) from the UC3M and the University of Leeds. He has a master’s degree in International Strategy Development from the UPM. He is the assistant director of Logistics Services at the Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF).

• Sivatte Adroer, Maurici
  

  Maurici Sivatte has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the UPC, where he is a collaborating professor. His research as part of the UPC’s TECNOFAB research group focuses on manufacturing, honing and artificial neural networks.

• Sunyer Mac Lennan, Fernando
  

  Fernando Sunyer has a degree in Industrial Engineering from the Bilbao School of Industrial Engineering. He has an EMBA from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas. He works in Sales and Marketing at Alstom Transporte S.A.

• Terés Casals, Josep Carles
  

  Josep Carles Terés has a degree in Law from the UB. He has a diploma in Labour Relations, with a specialisation in Business Organisation, from the UB. He has a master’s degree in Private Infrastructure Management from the UPC. He took the RAMS Expert Advanced Programme at the CETREN training centre in Madrid. He took the Executive Development Programme at ESADE in Barcelona. He is a consultant for International Urban Railway and Freight Transport Projects and European Projects at FGC-Infraestructura. He is the general secretary of the Railgrup cluster’s RDI committee.

• Tortajada Flores, Albert
  

  Albert Tortajada has a degree in Civil Engineering from the UPC. He is the director of Planning at Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

• Ubalde Claver, Luis
  

  Luis Ubalde was awarded a degree in Civil Engineering by the UPC in 2000. His education includes a Management Development Programme at the IESE. As an adjunct professor at the UPC and an engineer and researcher at the CENIT, he has participated in various research projects for the Spanish government, the European Investment Bank, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya and other bodies. He is an expert in railway planning and infrastructure.

• Ureña Serrano, Oscar
  

  Oscar Ureña has a degree in Industrial Engineering from the UPC and an advanced master’s degree in Railway and Urban Transport Systems from the ENPC in Paris. He is passionate about trains. He has been working in the railway industry since 2008, when he joined Alstom Servicios. He is currently a project manager for Alstom Servicios at Metro de Barcelona. He has worked on subway projects in Latin America, where he also taught driving and maintenance.

Duration

60 ECTS credits (502 class hours)

Taught

From October 2024

Timetable

• Friday: from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday: from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Thursday: visits to companies and facilities

Taught at

Polytechnic School of engineering of Vilanova i la Geltrú. EPSEVG

Av. Víctor Balaguer, 1

Vilanova i la Geltrú

Contact

Telèfon: (34) 93 707 31 32

Degree

Master’s degree awarded by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. To be awarded the master’s degree, students must have an official university degree or a university-specific degree. If this is not the case, students will be awarded a programme completion certificate by the Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya.

Enrolment fee

€ 9.900

The total enrolment fee must be paid before the master’s degree begins

A voluntary contribution of €5 may be made when one enrols. This donation is part of the UPC’s 0.7% campaign and it contributes to development cooperation initiatives.

Paying in instalments

Enrolment fees may be paid in two instalments:

• 60% of the total fee a month before classes start at the latest
• 40% remaining before classes start