Track Design unit (JEE155)

Online

Introduction

In JEE151 Fundamentals of Track Engineering you learned about the various components from which track is constructed. However, simply knowing about these components will not enable you to have any meaningful insight into the complex interactions between each of those components, nor how to manipulate them for effective design of a track’s structure. Neither does that knowledge mean you know how the alignment of the track is selected to ensure trains can traverse the track safely and speedily. Design of railway tracks requires you to have some understanding of track alignment issues and requires you to build on your knowledge of track components. Those components influence each other significantly but they also have limitations in carrying forces applied by passing trains or by environmental factors. The unit also provides some further foundation knowledge to enable you to understand the forces of interaction between the track and trains that will be explored later in the unit Track Defects and Track-train Interaction.

Summary

Unit name	Track Design
Unit code	JEE155
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Sciences and Engineering Australian Maritime College
Discipline	National Centre for Maritime Engineering and Hydrodynamics
Coordinator	Doctor Mark Symes
Available as an elective?	No
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Introductory

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Online	Semester 1

Note

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Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 1	22/2/2026	16/3/2026	19/4/2026	13/6/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Identify the important features of track alignment to ensure safe operation of trains
• Explain the relationship between track and train dimensions, alignment and transit to ensure safe clearances between trains and the surrounding infrastructure
• Undertake basic design of a ballast track structure for efficient use of railway business resources in building and maintaining track
• Describe the process of rail and sleeper selection for safe cost-effective track design and maintenance
• Apply the key influences affecting lateral track stability to avoid train derailments

Fee Information

Field of Education	Commencing Student Contribution 1,3	Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3	Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3	Domestic Full Fee 4
039907	$1,192.00	$1,192.00	not applicable	$3,401.00

• Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
• HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility³
• FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility⁴

¹ Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
² Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
³ Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
⁴ Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Prerequisites

JEE151

Teaching

Assessment	Assessment Task 1 (33%)|Assessment task 2 (33%)|Assessment task 3 (34%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.

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