A train operation control method includes acquiring a battery state of an arriving train, and determining a target dwell time of the arriving train according to the battery state of the arriving train, actual operation data of the arriving train, and planned operation data of the arriving train, so that the arriving train stops for charging according to the target dwell time. The actual operation data of the arriving train includes an actual arrival time of the arriving train, and the planned operation data of the arriving train includes a planned arrival time, a planned dwell time, a minimum dwell time, and a maximum dwell time of the arriving train.

A train operation control method includes acquiring a battery state of an arriving train, and determining a target dwell time of the arriving train according to the battery state of the arriving train, actual operation data of the arriving train, and planned operation data of the arriving train, so that the arriving train stops for charging according to the target dwell time. The actual operation data of the arriving train includes an actual arrival time of the arriving train, and the planned operation data of the arriving train includes a planned arrival time, a planned dwell time, a minimum dwell time, and a maximum dwell time of the arriving train.

A Rail Drone can include: a payload interface, a drivetrain, and a rail platform 515. The Rail Drone can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The Rail Drone can integrate a standardized payload interface and an autonomous electric road vehicle platform into a rolling stock architecture. The Rail Drone can be a stand-alone, payload-agnostic, motive element which can be independently or cooperatively capable of carrying heavy loads across long distances at various cruising speeds.

A Rail Drone can include: a payload interface, a drivetrain, and a rail platform(515). The Rail Drone can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The Rail Drone can integrate a standardized payload interface and an autonomous electric road vehicle platform into a rolling stock architecture. The Rail Drone can be a stand-alone, payload-agnostic, motive element which can be independently or cooperatively capable of carrying heavy loads across long distances at various cruising speeds.

A Rail Drone can include: a payload interface, a drivetrain, and a rail platform 515. The Rail Drone can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The Rail Drone can integrate a standardized payload interface and an autonomous electric road vehicle platform into a rolling stock architecture. The Rail Drone can be a stand-alone, payload-agnostic, motive element which can be independently or cooperatively capable of carrying heavy loads across long distances at various cruising speeds.

A monitoring and diagnostics system for a rail car that includes multiple sensor units, each comprising sensor devices and a data transfer unit, wherein the set of sensor units includes at least one power harvester, which is configured to convert ambient energy into electrical energy, and one energy storage means, which can be configured to store the electrical energy generated by the power harvester, a sensor hub which includes a communication subsystem and a receiver, wherein the data transfer units are configured, so that the sensor units transfer detected/measured data to the sensor hub and the communication subsystem is configured, so that the sensor hub transfers the data to the receiver, either with cable or wirelessly.

A monitoring and diagnostics system for a rail car that includes multiple sensor units, each comprising sensor devices and a data transfer unit, wherein the set of sensor units includes at least one power harvester, which is configured to convert ambient energy into electrical energy, and one energy storage means, which can be configured to store the electrical energy generated by the power harvester, a sensor hub which includes a communication subsystem and a receiver, wherein the data transfer units are configured, so that the sensor units transfer detected/measured data to the sensor hub and the communication subsystem is configured, so that the sensor hub transfers the data to the receiver, either with cable or wirelessly.

Conventional APUs for diesel-electric locomotives may include an AC electric generator and typically require additional hardware to be installed to convert the AC power output by the generator to DC power that can power electrical systems or charge batteries in the locomotive. According to some embodiments, there is provided an auxiliary power unit (APU) or system for operation in cooperation with a primary engine. The APU includes a secondary engine; a primary engine coolant heating system, or a primary engine lubricant heating system; a control system that automatically shuts down the primary engine and starts the secondary engine responsive to a predetermined condition; and a Direct Current (DC) power generator that generates an output voltage, the DC power generator being driven by the secondary engine.

Conventional APUs for diesel-electric locomotives may include an AC electric generator and typically require additional hardware to be installed to convert the AC power output by the generator to DC power that can power electrical systems or charge batteries in the locomotive. According to some embodiments, there is provided an auxiliary power unit (APU) or system for operation in cooperation with a primary engine. The APU includes a secondary engine; a primary engine coolant heating system, or a primary engine lubricant heating system; a control system that automatically shuts down the primary engine and starts the secondary engine responsive to a predetermined condition; and a Direct Current (DC) power generator that generates an output voltage, the DC power generator being driven by the secondary engine.

A rail-mounted rail processing machine has at least one traction motor and with at least one working unit for processing tracks, a permanent energy source, an electrical energy storage and a current collector. The components are connected to a common direct current network via power converters. In order to create a rail-mounted rail processing machine that allows low-maintenance and environmentally friendly operation of working aggregates with strongly varying peak loads without having to accept losses in the processing quality, the permanent energy source is a fuel cell which feeds at least one base load of the working unit into the direct current network via one of the power converters. To cover peak loads of at least the working unit, buffer energy of the energy storage acting as a buffer store is feedable into the direct current network via an associated one of the power converters.