A system for navigating within a track network includes, as system components, a system central, a track maintenance machine and a communication device. The system central is set up for administering network data representing a model of the track network. The track maintenance machine is suited for treatment of track sections of the track network. The track maintenance machine includes a navigation device for processing navigation data derived from the network data. The communication device is provided for data exchange between the system central and the navigation device. The system includes at least one movable or stationary carrier platform with sensors for collecting raw data representing characteristic information of the track network. A big data framework is set up in the system central to evaluate the raw data and synchronize them with the network data. Automated updating of the network data can be carried out with the system.

A vehicle control system includes one or more processors configured to assign plural vehicles to different groups in one or more vehicle systems for travel along one or more routes. The one or more processors also are configured to determine trip plans for the different groups. The trip plans designate different operational settings of the vehicles in the different groups at different locations along one or more routes during movement of the one or more vehicle systems along the one or more routes. The one or more processors also are configured to modify one or more of the groups to which the vehicles are assigned or the operational settings for the vehicles in one or more of the vehicle systems based on a movement parameter of one or more of the vehicle systems. The trip plans for the different groups of the vehicles are interdependent upon each other.

A vehicle control system includes one or more processors configured to assign plural vehicles to different groups in one or more vehicle systems for travel along one or more routes. The one or more processors also are configured to determine trip plans for the different groups. The trip plans designate different operational settings of the vehicles in the different groups at different locations along one or more routes during movement of the one or more vehicle systems along the one or more routes. The one or more processors also are configured to modify one or more of the groups to which the vehicles are assigned or the operational settings for the vehicles in one or more of the vehicle systems based on a movement parameter of one or more of the vehicle systems. The trip plans for the different groups of the vehicles are interdependent upon each other.

A control system is disclosed for use with a locomotive. The control system may have a component located onboard the locomotive, the component having a first state and a second state. The control system may also have an operator input device located onboard the locomotive and used to manually toggle operation of the component between the first and second states, and at least one sensor located onboard the locomotive and configured to generate a signal associated with a condition of the locomotive. The control system may also have an offboard controller located remotely from the locomotive and being configured to selectively override the operator input device and toggle operation of the component between the first and second states based on the signal.

A control system is disclosed for use with a locomotive. The control system may have a component located onboard the locomotive, the component having a first state and a second state. The control system may also have an operator input device located onboard the locomotive and used to manually toggle operation of the component between the first and second states, and at least one sensor located onboard the locomotive and configured to generate a signal associated with a condition of the locomotive. The control system may also have an offboard controller located remotely from the locomotive and being configured to selectively override the operator input device and toggle operation of the component between the first and second states based on the signal.

A connection structure includes: a circuit breaker connected to a power cable through which high-voltage power is supplied; a high-voltage device box accommodating the circuit breaker; a main transformer configured to transform a voltage of the high-voltage power and provided under the floor of the car; a first connector device electrically connected to the circuit breaker and provided at a dividing wall of the high-voltage device box; a second connector device electrically connected to the main transformer and provided at a dividing wall of the main transformer; and a high-voltage cable covered with an insulating coating and having both end portions to which cable connector portions are respectively attached, wherein the high-voltage cable connects the first connector device and the second connector device in such a manner that the cable connector portions respectively fit and are connected to the first connector device and the second connector device.

A connection structure includes: a circuit breaker connected to a power cable through which high-voltage power is supplied; a high-voltage device box accommodating the circuit breaker; a main transformer configured to transform a voltage of the high-voltage power and provided under the floor of the car; a first connector device electrically connected to the circuit breaker and provided at a dividing wall of the high-voltage device box; a second connector device electrically connected to the main transformer and provided at a dividing wall of the main transformer; and a high-voltage cable covered with an insulating coating and having both end portions to which cable connector portions are respectively attached, wherein the high-voltage cable connects the first connector device and the second connector device in such a manner that the cable connector portions respectively fit and are connected to the first connector device and the second connector device.

A self-propelled railcar having a structure; at least one bogie attached to the structure, a sensor suite; a propulsion motor; and an energy storage system. The at least one bogie having at least one powered axle. The sensor suite has a processor and a plurality of sensors. The energy storage system includes a controller and a power source, wherein the controller provides energy from the power source to the propulsion motor to the powered axle in a predetermined manner to control movement of the self-propelled railcar. The energy storage system may be off-board.

A railcar control device controls a plurality of traction motors included in a train set. The railcar control device includes: a control command input portion to which a control command is input; and a torque command determining portion configured to determine torque commands with respect to a plurality of traction motors such that when a required torque based on the control command input to the control command input portion is less than a maximum value, a torque of a specific traction motor among the plurality of traction motors is made lower than a torque of a different traction motor other than the specific traction motor.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a communication system for vehicles and an associated method. A method includes receiving a command message from a first vehicle at a second vehicle, wherein the first vehicle and second vehicle are communicatively coupled to define at least a portion of a vehicle group; receiving a status reply message from the second vehicle at the first vehicle in response to a trigger event; controlling an operation of one or more vehicles in the vehicle group based at least in part on a determined communications status of a communication network comprising at least one communication device with respect to the command message and the status reply message.