RailTEC Graduates Working Around The World

Welcome to the University of Illinois Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC)

In the news

RailTEC at IHHA/WCRR 2025

A large contingent of faculty, staff, students and alumni represented RailTEC at Rail Research Week on 17-21 November 2025, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This event was a joint conference for the 13th International Heavy Haul Association Conference (IHHA 2025) as they teamed up with the 14th World Congress on Railway Research (WCRR 2025). This collaboration... Read More

That’s a Wrap – RREC and S&R Day

The Railroad Environmental Conference (RREC), held on 11-12 November at the I-Hotel and Illinois Conference Center on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, celebrated its 27th year with a high-quality program. The 2025 conference had 402 registrants who had the opportunity to hear over 50 different spoken and poster presentations given by railroad managers, environmental... Read More

RailTEC Student Spotlight – Paige Hardt

A railway engineering short course in railroad project design offered through RailTEC at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign motivated Paige Hardt to move to Illinois to pursue a master’s degree. Hardt earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Wyoming in May 2021 and then worked for three-and-a-half years as a civil... Read More

What we do

Education

RailTEC inspires and engages students by offering the most extensive curriculum in railway engineering and transportation in North America. We offer multiple courses on rail topics and are committed to placing our graduates in rewarding public and private sector positions.  RailTEC also supports continuing education of rail professionals through seminars, short courses and conferences.

Research

RailTEC is a global leader in practical and theoretical research advancing the field in a broad range of important and timely railroad and rail transit engineering and transportation topics. Advanced research investigations are underway in railway safety, systems, and infrastructure, addressing dozens of topics that are essential to maintaining the safety, efficiency, reliability, sustainability and resiliency of railroad freight and passenger transportation.

Service

RailTEC shares its expertise with industry, government, academia, and the public helping to interpret and apply knowledge and implement solutions to advance rail transport and engineering. Our faculty and staff are well engaged as leaders and members of AREMA, TRB, AAR, ASCE, INFORMS, and IAROR committees.