A system and method for virtual block stick circuits is presented. The present disclosure implements specialized algorithms adapted to determine the true status of a virtual block based on multiple inputs from different perspectives. In one embodiment, the system can use the far house perspective of that virtual track segment and the PTC hazard for the near virtual track segment directly adjacent to the near house uses the near house perspective of that virtual track segment. For the middle virtual track segments, the near house perspectives of the middle virtual track segments are held ‘TRUE’ if they are already ‘TRUE’ when the train first enters the block, using stick circuits for the near house perspective of the middle track circuits. The vital application can then indicate the true state of the virtual track segment as occupied (FALSE), to protect the train from trains that follow.

Systems, devices, media, and methods are presented for controlling remote equipment in a network. A switch heater control system includes a weather modeling function. The system periodically obtains weather data according to a predetermined time interval. Based on the closest weather data set, the weather modeling function generates a hyperlocal forecast associated with each switch heater location. The system includes an active snowfall mode and a maintenance mode that controls heating based on an estimate of local snow depth, adjusted for wind conditions and passing trains. When the hyperlocal forecast indicates heating is required, the system calculates a melt duration, starts a timer, and transmits a start signal to the switch heater.

A surge suppression circuit for a track circuit is provided. The surge suppression circuit comprises a first surge protection device including a first pair of silicon avalanche diodes and a second surge protection device including a second pair of silicon avalanche diodes. The first surge protection device is connected on a first connection line between a first terminal of a railroad signaling electronic equipment to be protected from a surge and a first terminal of a first rail of two physical rails. The second surge protection device is connected on a second connection line between a second terminal of the railroad signaling electronic equipment and a second terminal of a second rail of the two physical rails. The first surge protection device and the second surge protection device are connected to an earth ground terminal.

A surge suppression circuit for a track circuit is provided. The surge suppression circuit comprises a first surge protection device including a first pair of silicon avalanche diodes and a second surge protection device including a second pair of silicon avalanche diodes. The first surge protection device is connected on a first connection line between a first terminal of a railroad signaling electronic equipment to be protected from a surge and a first terminal of a first rail of two physical rails. The second surge protection device is connected on a second connection line between a second terminal of the railroad signaling electronic equipment and a second terminal of a second rail of the two physical rails. The first surge protection device and the second surge protection device are connected to an earth ground terminal.

A railway termination shunt enclosure including one or more receptacles, each of the one or more receptacles being configured to receive a termination shunt. The enclosure also includes at least one mounting surface and a connector assembly rotatably attaching the one or more receptacles to one or more of the at least one mounting surface.

A system and method for virtual block stick circuits is presented. The present disclosure implements specialized algorithms adapted to determine the true status of a virtual block based on multiple inputs from different perspectives. In one embodiment, the system can use the far house perspective of that virtual track segment and the PTC hazard for the near virtual track segment directly adjacent to the near house uses the near house perspective of that virtual track segment. For the middle virtual track segments, the near house perspectives of the middle virtual track segments are held ‘TRUE’ if they are already ‘TRUE’ when the train first enters the block, using stick circuits for the near house perspective of the middle track circuits. The vital application can then indicate the true state of the virtual track segment as occupied (FALSE), to protect the train from trains that follow.

This method is for managing a railway electrical circuit (3A, 3B) adapted to detect presence of a rolling stock (T) on a railway track (1), the railway track (1) being subdivided in successive track sections (1A, 1B) forming successive electrical circuits (3A, 3B) independently fed with electrical current for monitoring the presence of a rolling stock (T) on one of the track sections (1A, 1B), each electrical circuit (3A, 3B) comprising a transmission device (9A, 9B) for feeding the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) with electrical current, located at one end of the track section, and a reception device (11A, 11B) for detecting the electrical current circulating in the electrical circuit (3A, 3B), located at an opposed end of the track section. This method comprises steps consisting in a) continuously feeding the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) with electrical current with the transmission device (9A, 9B) and monitoring the presence of a rolling stock (T) on the corresponding track section (1A, 1B) by measuring, using the reception device (11A, 11B), the current circulating in the electrical circuit (3A, 3B); b) if the reception device (11A, 11B) detects that a rolling stock (T) is present on the track section (1A, 1B), applying to the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) a nominal electrical power (PN) at least until the rolling stock (T) exits the section (1A, 1B); c) if the reception device (11A, 11B) detects that no rolling stock (T) is present on the track section (1A, 1B), applying to the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) a power-saving power value (P0) which is inferior to the nominal power (PN). At step b), the electrical power (P.sub.OT) consumed by the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) is kept under a limited value (P2). A system for detecting presence of a rolling stock (T) on a railway track (1) is also provided.

This method is for managing a railway electrical circuit (3A, 3B) adapted to detect presence of a rolling stock (T) on a railway track (1), the railway track (1) being subdivided in successive track sections (1A, 1B) forming successive electrical circuits (3A, 3B) independently fed with electrical current for monitoring the presence of a rolling stock (T) on one of the track sections (1A, 1B), each electrical circuit (3A, 3B) comprising a transmission device (9A, 9B) for feeding the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) with electrical current, located at one end of the track section, and a reception device (11A, 11B) for detecting the electrical current circulating in the electrical circuit (3A, 3B), located at an opposed end of the track section. This method comprises steps consisting in a) continuously feeding the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) with electrical current with the transmission device (9A, 9B) and monitoring the presence of a rolling stock (T) on the corresponding track section (1A, 1B) by measuring, using the reception device (11A, 11B), the current circulating in the electrical circuit (3A, 3B); b) if the reception device (11A, 11B) detects that a rolling stock (T) is present on the track section (1A, 1B), applying to the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) a nominal electrical power (PN) at least until the rolling stock (T) exits the section (1A, 1B); c) if the reception device (11A, 11B) detects that no rolling stock (T) is present on the track section (1A, 1B), applying to the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) a power-saving power value (P0) which is inferior to the nominal power (PN). At step b), the electrical power (P.sub.OT) consumed by the electrical circuit (3A, 3B) is kept under a limited value (P2). A system for detecting presence of a rolling stock (T) on a railway track (1) is also provided.

A system and method for virtual block operational status control with long block time delay is presented. The present disclosure can advantageously increase the capacity and safety of the existing railroad track infrastructure used by the railroads by determining whether a virtual block is healthy or unhealthy. The long block mode can provide a coarse granularity on the presence of a train. In virtual block mode, the system can implement a finer granularity so the virtual aspects of the sub blocks can be realized. The present disclosure provides a long block mode that can provide the system an opportunity to analyze the potential tradeoffs between granularity and reliability by determining which mode (virtual block or long block) is best utilized in a given situation. The system can operate by default in long block mode and ignore the virtual block capabilities until absolutely needed.

A method and system for health assessment of a track circuit and/or of a track section, the track circuit being configured for detecting the presence of a vehicle on the track section between a transmitting end and a receiving end of the track circuit. The method, implemented by an electronic device, comprises obtaining, from a sensor device placed near the receiving end, samples of an electrical parameter of an electric signal transmitted between the transmitting end and the receiving end of the track section, forming a temporal series of received samples, applying an automatic clustering algorithm to separate the received samples in a predetermined number of clusters, selecting one of the clusters and determining, for the selected cluster, a first peak value of the received samples classified within the selected cluster, and calculating a track circuit health indicator depending on the first peak value determined for the selected cluster.