Course detail

Introduction to Rail Vehicles

FSI-BK0Acad. year: 2025/2026

The subject introduces students to rail vehicles, basic actions and requirements in their development, both from the point of view of the whole and with a focus on individual structural nodes. Their purpose, principle of function, construction and current state of development are explained. The theoretical, structural and operational aspects are monitored. Presentation materials of functional samples provided by industrial partners and experimental techniques in laboratories, or examples of computational approaches are used during teaching.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Ing. Kamil Řehák, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Automotive Engineering (ÚADI)

Entry knowledge

Basic knowledge corresponding to the subjects of the theoretical basis of the bachelor's degree FSI BUT in Brno.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Credit is conditional on:
- active participation in the exercises,
- passing the credit test.

The credit test verifies the knowledge acquired in the exercises, it can be supplemented with an oral discussion.

 

Teaching in exercises and laboratories is compulsory, attendance is checked by the teacher. The form of replacing lessons missed for serious reasons is solved individually with the subject guarantor, usually by working out additional tasks from the given issue.

Aims

The aim of the subject is to introduce students to the topic of rail vehicles. The student will gain knowledge about the approach to the construction of trucks, passenger cars and driving vehicles as a whole. At the same time, attention is paid to key structural units from the point of view of the requirements placed on them, their construction, the method of development and subsequent testing.

 


The student will become familiar with the information that forms a comprehensive basis for further development for the purpose of independent conceptual or design activity, as well as a basic insight into the evaluation and optimization of structural designs of partial key assemblies of rail vehicles, while the emphasis is placed on the connection with practical usability.

Study aids

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

HELLER, Petr. Kolejová vozidla I. 1. vydání. Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2017. ISBN 978-80-261-0693-7. (CS)
HELLER, Petr. Kolejová vozidla II. 1. vydání. Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2019. ISBN 978-80-261-0773-6. (CS)
HELLER, Petr. Kolejová vozidla III. 1. vydání. Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2021. ISBN 978-80-261-1047-7 (CS)
KOLÁŘ, Josef. Teoretické základy konstrukce kolejových vozidel. ČVUT v Praze, 2009. ISBN 978-80-01-04262-5. (CS)

Recommended reading

HELLER, Petr. Kolejová vozidla I. 1. vydání. Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2017. ISBN 978-80-261-0693-7. (CS)
HELLER, Petr. Kolejová vozidla II. 1. vydání. Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2019. ISBN 978-80-261-0773-6. (CS)
HELLER, Petr. Kolejová vozidla III. 1. vydání. Západočeská univerzita v Plzni, 2021. ISBN 978-80-261-1047-7. (CS)
KOLÁŘ, Josef. Teoretické základy konstrukce kolejových vozidel. ČVUT v Praze, 2009. ISBN 978-80-01-04262-5. (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B-OBN-P Bachelor's 1 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Technological exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Kamil Řehák, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Introduction to Rail Vehicles - history, key milestones, present
2. Terminology used for rail vehicles, requirements for rail vehicles
3. Introduction to the area of ​​power transmission in rail vehicles drives
4. Auxiliary drives of rail vehicles

5. Construction basics of the rail vehicles housing

6. Introduction to the issue of space for passenger transport
7. Introduction to the area of chassis movement in the track
8. The issue of wheel-rail contact
9. Introduction to the axle construction
10. Introduction to the issues of transmission and adjacent components
11. Trams and subway vehicles
12. High-speed rail vehicles
13. Development trends in the field of rail vehicles