IRSE Exam Syllabus ModA v3.0 Mar19

Module A Fundamentals of
Railway Control Engineering
New Syllabus for the IRSE Professional Examination v3.0
Introduction
IRSE Council has given the go-ahead for the first changes to the structure of the IRSE
Professional Examination in 25 years. The changes are intended to simplify the module
structure, to introduce modern assessment techniques and to encourage a much wider
population of railway professionals to learn about control and communications principles and
practices whilst maintaining the high status of the exam.
As of 2021, the IRSE Professional Examination will be structured into 4 modules:

Module A - Fundamentals of Railway Control Engineering
Module B - Railway Safety & Systems Engineering
Module C - Principles of Railway Control & Communications Systems
Module D - Applications of Railway Control & Communications Systems
Module A will be available from 2020.
The passing of Module A is a qualification in its own right and, for those that wish to take the full
IRSE Professional Examination, a prerequisite for Modules B, C & D. All four modules must be
passed to obtain the IRSE Professional Examination.
Prepared by:
Trevor Foulkes
Roger Short
Ed Rollings
Hedley Calderbank
Hongsin Kim
Ross Deacon
Tom Corker
Les Brearley
Paul Booth
With further suggestions from EPD Committee members
Approved by Education & Professional Development Committee on 13 March

2019.
IRSE Exam Syllabus ModA v3.0 Mar19 Page 1 of 3

Module A Fundamentals of Railway Control Engineering syllabus
Aim
The aim of this module is to assess the students’ knowledge and understanding of the
broad concepts and principles of railway signalling, telecommunications and systems
engineering. This includes, the context within which railway signalling,
telecommunications and systems engineers work including interfaces with other
railway and non-railway systems and processes. It does not seek to assess in-depth
knowledge of any of the subjects.
In addition to being a prerequisite for entering for Modules B, C & D, the module is
intended to be suitable as a qualification in its own right for the following types of
candidate:
 Those working with railway control systems staff who would benefit from
understanding the underlying principles, issues and terminology of the
profession. (e.g. project managers & planners, junior managers & supervisors
of contractors and sub-contractors)
 Railway Control & Communications technicians, engineers and managers
whose current level and breadth of knowledge and experience would not
enable them to pass the advanced modules B, C & D.
Learning objectives
To understand:
1. How a railway is operated to provide a safe and reliable service: including the role
of railway control and communications systems, operational staff & rules and how
these may be impacted by human factors
2. Railway control and communications philosophy and high-level principles: including
safety and efficiency of train movements
3. Safety Engineering principles as applicable to a railway: hazard and risk
assessment, identification and analysis techniques
4. The basic concepts of railway signalling and control systems: including the
functions of an interlocking; train detection and routing; traffic management;
operational and business communication systems
5. The functionality and potential limitations of the various types of signalling,
telecommunications and control equipment (e.g. mechanical, colour-light or in-cab
signalling; UHF, GSM-R, or public radio; copper or fibre cables; PDH, SDH or IP
transmission systems)
6. The basic concepts of a system lifecycle: including requirements definition,
application design, software production, system configuration, installation, testing,
commissioning and safety assurance.
7. How maintenance, inspection and testing keep the railway safe and reliable.
Concepts of dependability (reliability, availability, maintainability, safety, security)
and operability.

8. The basic concepts of design of fail-safe hardware and high-integrity software e.g.
design for safe output, fail safe, safety integrity levels
9. Governance applicable through standards, procedures, legislation and regulations
which apply to operating and changing a railway.
10. The interfaces and interactions between railway control and communications and
related systems within the railway and stakeholders, including: operations, rolling
stock, permanent way, electrification, power, evacuation system, structures,
tunnels and stations
11. The role of railway control and communications in functions other than the control of
train movement, including: control and protection of road and pedestrian traffic at
level crossings, management of passenger movement at stations, protection of
passenger/train interface at stations, protection of staff on or about the track &
management of emergencies, including provision of alarms and general
telecommunications
To be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge of the principles, applications and terminology of railway
control and communications, its equipment and the interfaces and interactions with
related systems.

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What is the aim of Module A?

What are some of the learning objectives of Module A?

Module A Fundamentals of

Railway Control Engineering

New Syllabus for the IRSE Professional Examination v3.0

As of 2021, the IRSE Professional Examination will be structured into 4 modules:

Module A will be available from 2020.

With further suggestions from EPD Committee members

Approved by Education & Professional Development Committee on 13 March

IRSE Exam Syllabus ModA v3.0 Mar19 Page 1 of 3

Module A Fundamentals of Railway Control Engineering syllabus

IRSE Exam Syllabus ModA v3.0 Mar19 Page 2 of 3

IRSE Exam Syllabus ModA v3.0 Mar19 Page 3 of 3

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