Today we spoke with Simone Cannarsa.

What made you choose such a specific path as Railway Infrastructure and Systems Engineering?

The decision to embark on this path was deeply motivated by an innate passion for railways, which has accompanied me since I was a child. The idea of working in this sector has always been my dream, prompting me to seek, once I had completed my university course, a training of excellence that could make me a well-prepared and competent professional, enabling me to acquire a systemic vision of an extremely complex and fascinating reality such as the railway.

The Post-Master course in Railway Infrastructure and Systems Engineering (IISF), offered by the Sapienza University of Rome, represents exactly what I was looking for: a consolidated course, capable of training hundreds of railway engineers over the years and guaranteeing a fusion between academic knowledge and direct experience in the sector, made possible by the comparison with the leading experts in the field, whom I then had the pleasure of following during lectures and meetings, within an environment that lives with railways on a daily basis.
I could say that it was this path that chose me!

Which of the disciplines you tackled during the Post-Master's course were you most passionate about and why?

The course allowed me to broaden my view of the railway world and to put myself on the line, tackling various topics that were also far removed from my training. In this way, I was able to train my skills in perspective, equipping me with tools I can use in the future to work as a team with other specialists in the sector.
In the twelve modules, one has the opportunity to range from more specific disciplines such as fixed infrastructure design, traffic engineering and rolling stock dynamics to broader topics such as safety management, logistics and rail terminals.
Personally, I was particularly fascinated by the topics related to service planning, seen as a series of logical and technical processes aimed at making decisions on how best to invest resources in new and existing infrastructures, the rehabilitation of existing lines and station buildings, and the market vision of passenger and freight transport, with a drive towards full European interoperability.

You are doing an internship during this study period: how is it going and what are you learning in the field compared to theory?

On 15 July 2024, I began my journey in the world of Siemens Mobility, finding an inspiring, welcoming and fruitful environment for my education.
I joined the Strategy Sales & Bid team, working closely with the Sales & Bid Manager and collaborating with various technical divisions.
Working in this reality allows me to gain a practical insight into the bid management process and the dynamics that govern the market in order to understand current dynamics and future trends, focusing in particular on the deployment process of the European ERTMS system.
The knowledge and skills acquired during the IISF Post-Master's course enable me to provide full support to my colleagues and to deal with a complex and evolving reality such as that of railway signalling.

Looking to the future, how do you imagine your role in the railway industry and what are your expectations for professional growth in this area?

Looking to the future, I hope to pursue new professional challenges with the curiosity that has always characterised me, ready to put myself out there even in areas that are currently less familiar to me, as I believe that this is the key to constant professional development. I want to apply my skills in a transversal manner, collaborating with professionals from different fields without being confined exclusively to my specialist field.
In addition, I hope to continue expanding my network of contacts, a crucial element in growing professionally in such a dynamic sector as railways, without ever stopping learning.