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101-0415-01L 3 Credits BSC D-USYS , D-BAUG
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Public Transport and Railways

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Francesco Corman
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:30:33

Abstract

Fundamentals of public and collective transport, in its different forms.Categorization of performance dimensions of public transport systems, and their implications to their design and operations.

Objective

Teaches the basic principles of public transport network and topology design, to understand the main characteristics and differences of public transport networks, based on buses, railways, or other technologies. Teaches students to recognize the interactions between the infrastructure design and the production processes, and various performance criteria based on various perspective and stakeholders. At the end of this course, students can critically analyze existing networks of public transport, their design and use; consider and substantiate different choices of technologies to suitable cases; optimize the use of resources in public transport.

Content

Fundamentals: Infrastructures and vehicle technologies of public transport systems; interaction between track and vehicles; passengers and goods as infrastructure users; management and financing of networks. Infrastructure: Planning processes and decision levels in network development and infrastructure planning, planning of topologies; tracks and roadways, station infrastructures; Fundamentals of the infrastructure design for lines; track geometries; switches and crossings Vehicles: Classification, design and suitability for different goals Network design: design dilemmas, conceptual models for passenger transport on long distance, urban regional transport. Operations: Passenger/Supply requirements for line operations; timetabling, measures of realized operations, capacity

Resources

Lecture Notes

Slides, in English, are made available some days before each lecture.

Literature

Reference material books are provided in German and English (list disseminated at lecture), plus Skript Bahninfrastruktur; System- und Netzplanung

General Information

Language
English
Levels
BSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
session examination
Mode
written 75 minutes
Aids
none

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Public Transport and Railways
  • Fri 11:45-13:30 (HIL E 1)
2 h weekly

Offered In