A communication system and method receive, at an energy management system disposed onboard a vehicle system formed from a lead vehicle and one or more remote vehicles, trip data that represents one or more characteristics of an upcoming trip of the vehicle system along a route. A selected portion of the trip data is communicated from the energy management system to a distributed power system also disposed onboard the vehicle system. The selected portion includes identifying information and one or more orientations of the one or more remote vehicles. Using the distributed power system, communication links between the lead vehicle and the one or more remote vehicles are established using the identifying information and the one or more orientations.

A body (1) for a rail vehicle (100) comprising a control panel (4) for controlling the rail vehicle (100). The control panel (4) has a rest position and an operational position and, in the rest position, is located in a control panel holder (41) while, in the operational position, is at least partially located outside the control panel holder (41) such that control elements (42) are accessible for operation.

A body (1) for a rail vehicle (100) comprising a control panel (4) for controlling the rail vehicle (100). The control panel (4) has a rest position and an operational position and, in the rest position, is located in a control panel holder (41) while, in the operational position, is at least partially located outside the control panel holder (41) such that control elements (42) are accessible for operation.

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.

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.

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.

Disclosed are an activation control method and apparatus for a railway train. The method includes that: at least one activation request sent by at least one motorman controller of a railway train is received; a number of at least one motorman controller sending the at least one activation request is determined; when there are a plurality of motorman controllers sending the at least one activation request, the railway train is controlled to perform an emergency braking; and when there is one motorman controller sending the at least one activation request, it is determined that a target motorman controller has a permission to control the railway train, wherein the target motorman controller is a unique motorman controller sending the at least one activation request. The present disclosure solves the problem in the related art of potential safety hazard of a double-vehicle activation processing method.

Disclosed are an activation apparatus of a railway vehicle and a railway vehicle having activation apparatus. The activation apparatus being disposed in each carriage of the railway vehicle containing a plurality of marshallings, the activation apparatus comprising: a target power supply, connected with an activation busbar through a first branch, wherein the activation busbar runs through the railway vehicle containing the plurality of marshallings; and a circuit switch, configured to control a state of the first branch, wherein the state comprising one of the followings: a disconnection state and a connection state. The present disclosure solves the technical problem in the related art in which a current railway vehicle activation mode cannot allow all control carriages to activate and control a corresponding railway vehicle.

Disclosed are an activation apparatus of a railway vehicle and a railway vehicle having activation apparatus. The activation apparatus being disposed in each carriage of the railway vehicle containing a plurality of marshallings, the activation apparatus comprising: a target power supply, connected with an activation busbar through a first branch, wherein the activation busbar runs through the railway vehicle containing the plurality of marshallings; and a circuit switch, configured to control a state of the first branch, wherein the state comprising one of the followings: a disconnection state and a connection state. The present disclosure solves the technical problem in the related art in which a current railway vehicle activation mode cannot allow all control carriages to activate and control a corresponding railway vehicle.