Join Penn State Altoona’s ABET-accredited Rail Transportation Engineering program and gain skills to excel in the rapidly growing, modernizing rail industry.
Gain hands-on learning opportunities in Rail Transportation Engineering, preparing for in-demand careers in rail freight and passenger transport.
- Nation’s first and only bachelor of science degree in Rail Transportation Engineering
- Fully accredited by the Engineering Commission of ABET
- Learn from expert faculty and access top-ranked career and student life resources
- Build valuable experience in engineering courses before entering the workforce
- Learn civil engineering fundamentals like surveying, GPS mapping, and CAD to prepare for careers in rail infrastructure design and maintenance
Career Outlook in Rail Transportation Engineering
Rail transport is a growing global industry, offering rail engineers diverse opportunities in management and technical roles across both private and public sectors. Careers span the freight, passenger, and transit sectors, including large railroad companies, short-line railroads, engineering firms, suppliers, government agencies, and research institutions.
Rail Transportation Engineering graduates are in high demand, typically receiving multiple job offers before graduation. Altoona’s RTE graduates have a 96% employment rate.
Careers
- Railroad track design and maintenance
- Civil infrastructure design and maintenance
- Railway construction management
- Rail engineer
- Railcar and locomotive design and maintenance
- Railway signaling
- Railroad transportation logistics
- Network planning and operations
Experience Rail Transportation Engineering
Explore the unique opportunities in Rail Transportation Engineering at Penn State Altoona, where hands-on learning, industry connections, and real-world experiences prepare you for a successful career.
The AREMA Student Chapter at Penn State Altoona connects RTE students with industry professionals, alumni, and peers. Through field trips, guest speakers, and events like the AREMA Annual Conference, students gain valuable knowledge, networking opportunities, and career connections.
RTE students gain hands-on experience through field trips, including riding Amtrak’s geometry car and learning track maintenance along the Northeast Corridor. With direct access to industry connections, students enjoy unmatched exposure by visiting passenger companies, freight transporters, suppliers, manufacturers, and more.
Students gain real-world experience through lab courses with rail equipment, undergraduate research, internships with top companies, and rail-focused capstone projects. They also participate in unique competitions and career discussions to prepare for the rail industry.
Located near the iconic Horseshoe Curve and Class I railroads, shortlines, and suppliers, Penn State Altoona puts you at the heart of U.S. railroading with access to top industry connections and hands-on opportunities.
Penn State Altoona faculty are leading a $6.87 million national research initiative, funded by the Federal Railroad Administration, to launch a research initiative called Rail CREST. This center will develop affordable technologies to enhance the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of short-line and regional railroads, which are critical to local economies.
Discover what makes Penn State Altoona's Rail Transportation Engineering program unique—watch the video to learn about the nation’s only degree of its kind!
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