Rail Transportation Channel
Videos from the Michigan Tech Rail Transportation program and the Summer in Finland - International Summer Program in Railroad Engineering

Michigan Tech's vision is to expand its service to the rail industry by offering an interdisciplinary program in railroad engineering and urban rail transit that will provide opportunities for our students and faculty to participate in the development and operation of rail transportation for the 21st Century.


Background:
In January 2003, Michigan Tech started the development of railway engineering education. The first step was the development of an International Summer Program in Railway Engineering to Finland which offered first time during Summer 2004. By summer 2008, almost 80 student participants from three universities and several different disciplines have completed the program successfully.

In 2005, Michigan Tech established Railroad Engineering and Activities Club (REAC), which became the first official Student Chapter of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA) in 2006. REAC was established to

1. Raise awareness and interest in railroad engineering. 2. Educate the student body about the opportunities and benefits of a career in railroading. 3. Organize and participate in events that increase the visibility of railroad industry on campus and among general public.

Encouraged by the growing interest for rail transportation two additional on-campus courses are currently being offered to further expand the understanding of Tech graduates in rail related topics, Public Transit Planning and Engineering and Track Engineering and Design.

In Fall 2007, Michigan Tech officially established Rail Transportation Program (RTP) within its Michigan Tech Transportation Institute as a central entity for rail activities and appointed Pasi Lautala as the Director of the Program.

If you are interested in Rail Transportation Program at Tech, please contact Pasi Lautala (906-487-3547, (ptlautal@mtu.edu) or Bill Sproule (906- 487-2568, wsproule@mtu.edu)