An electric rail system includes a current collector mounted for movement along at least one rail of the electric rail system and a monitoring system for detecting a condition indicative of a problem with the rail system or the current collector. The monitoring system includes a detector having one or more of: a camera configured to record images of a portion of the rail system in front of or behind the current collector, at least one vibration sensor on at least one slip contact of the current collector, an optical spark sensor configured to detect sparks in a contact region between the slip contact and the at least one rail, and at least one distance sensor configured to detect a distance between the at least one distance sensor and the at least one rail.

A positioning guidance system and method based on guide rails, comprising: a host computer; a guide rail band; a plurality of beacons arranged along the guide rail band; and a receiver array fixedly mounted on a target to be positioned and guided, wherein: the host computer is connected to the guide rail band and the beacons; the beacons are connected to the receiver array; the host computer transmits movement requirements and a list and sequence of beacons to be passed to the receiver array through the beacons; the guide rail band transmits a positioning guidance signal to the receiver array; and the receiver array determines a relative position of the target to be positioned and guided by taking the guide rail band as reference, according to a projection of the guide rail band on the receiver array.

A train-information management device mounted on a train, includes: an intra-block position calculator to convert information on a kilometrage that indicates a position of the train into information on a block number and an intra-block position of a plurality of blocks into which a route of the train is divided and that are used when a train position is specified by a train radio system; and an on-board router to communicate the information on the block number and the intra-block position to a ground side by using a system that is different from a system that is used for communication between the ground side and a train side via a radio base station in the train radio system.

Systems and methods are provided for decentralized rail signaling and positive train control. A decentralized train control system may include a plurality of wayside units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each configured for use in a train operating in a railway network that support use of the decentralized train control system. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive communicate with any wayside unit and/or train-mounted unit that comes within range, with the communicating including use of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and for generating control information based on the UWB signals, for use in controlling one or more functions associated with operation of the train.

Methods and systems are provided for wireless train communications for supporting control of train operation. A system for controlling train operations may include a control system and a train-based communication unit for deployment on the train. The train-based communication unit may be configured for communicating wireless signals. The train-based communication unit may communicate with one or more wayside communication units when it moves within communication range of the wayside communication units, and the train-based communication unit may communicate operational information to the control system derived from communications between the train-based and the wayside communication units. The control system may be a communication-based train control (CBTC) system. The train-based communication unit and at least one wayside communication unit may be configured for utilizing ultra-wideband (UWB) based communications. The operational information may include at least one of: range, wayside communication unit identifier (ID), and track location.

A job aid system and method determine conditions in which a vehicle system is operating or will operate during movement of the vehicle system along one or more routes. A context-sensitive action checklist is selected or generated based on one or more of the conditions. Input from the operator of the vehicle system is received in response to one or more action items in the context-sensitive action checklist that is presented to the operator. An alertness level of the operator is determined based on the input that is received from the operator. One or more alerting actions can be implemented to increase the alertness level of the operator.

A method is provided that can include activating at least two wireless communication channels in parallel, between a first wireless transceiver and a second wireless transceiver. Each of the at least two wireless communication channels can operate at a different radio carrier frequency, and the first wireless transceiver may be part of a first vehicle. The method can also include transmitting, by the first wireless transceiver, common information in parallel on the at least two wireless communication channels to the second wireless transceiver and deactivating the at least two wireless communication channels.

Provided is a computer-implemented method for determining a communication status in a train consist operating in a distributed power system, the train consist including a lead locomotive and a plurality of remote locomotives. The method includes, for each remote locomotive of the plurality of remote locomotives that receives the command message directly from the lead locomotive, setting the message source indicator of the remote locomotive to a first state representative of a direct receipt of the command message, incrementing the message source counter for each response message received by the remote locomotive from other remote locomotives in which the respective message source indicator is set to the first state, generating a response message including a value of the message source indicator and a value of the message source counter, and transmitting the response message. A system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Systems and methods are provided for decentralized rail signaling and positive train control. A decentralized train control system may include a plurality of wayside units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each configured for use in a train operating in a railway network that support use of the decentralized train control system. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive communicate with any wayside unit and/or train-mounted unit that comes within range, with the communicating including use of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and for generating control information based on the UWB signals, for use in controlling one or more functions associated with operation of the train.

Systems and methods are provided for decentralized train control. A decentralized train system may include a plurality of wayside control units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each of which being configured for use in a particular train. Each wayside control unit may obtain information corresponding to each train that passes within its communication range, and provide obtained train-related information to each train-mounted unit passing within its communication range. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive train-related information from each wayside control unit that comes within its communication range, process the received train-related information, assess based on the processing of the train-related information conditions relating to operation of train within the railway network, and when at least one condition meets one or more particular criteria, perform or cause performing one or more responsive actions.