A method for operating a railroad vehicle without reference to physical railroad signs placed along a railroad track includes determining a current location of the railroad vehicle along the railroad track based on the determined current location of the railroad vehicle, automatically selecting a virtual railroad sign from one or more databases containing a plurality of virtual railroad signs, each of the plurality of virtual railroad signs stored in the one or more databases being associated with (i) a location along the railroad track and (ii) a message, and displaying, on an electronic display device a railroad track indicia representative of a segment of the railroad track, a railroad vehicle indicia representative of at least a portion of the railroad vehicle, and an indicia representative of the associated message of the selected virtual railroad sign.

An advanced preemption system may comprise at least one motion detector and at least one advanced preemption processing system in communication with the at least one motion detector. The at least one motion detector may be configured to detect motion within at least one motion detection zone, the at least one motion detection zone containing a section of railroad track outside of a track circuit containing a railroad crossing where a thoroughfare crosses the railroad track. The at least one advanced preemption processing system may be configured to receive, from the at least one motion detector, an indication that motion has been detected within the at least one motion detection zone and activate at least one traffic control element for the thoroughfare before a train enters the track circuit.

An advanced preemption system may comprise at least one motion detector and at least one advanced preemption processing system in communication with the at least one motion detector. The at least one motion detector may be configured to detect motion within at least one motion detection zone, the at least one motion detection zone containing a section of railroad track outside of a track circuit containing a railroad crossing where a thoroughfare crosses the railroad track. The at least one advanced preemption processing system may be configured to receive, from the at least one motion detector, an indication that motion has been detected within the at least one motion detection zone and activate at least one traffic control element for the thoroughfare before a train enters the track circuit.

System includes a control system used to control operation of a vehicle system as the vehicle system moves along a route. The vehicle system includes a plurality of system vehicles in which adjacent system vehicles are operatively coupled such that the adjacent system vehicles are permitted to move relative to one another. The control system includes one or more processors that are configured to (a) receive operational settings of the vehicle system and (b) input the operational settings into a system model of the vehicle system to determine an observed metric of the vehicle system. The one or more processors are also configured to (c) compare the observed metric to a reference metric and (d) modify the operational settings of the vehicle system based on differences between the observed and the reference metrics.

System includes a control system used to control operation of a vehicle system as the vehicle system moves along a route. The vehicle system includes a plurality of system vehicles in which adjacent system vehicles are operatively coupled such that the adjacent system vehicles are permitted to move relative to one another. The control system includes one or more processors that are configured to (a) receive operational settings of the vehicle system and (b) input the operational settings into a system model of the vehicle system to determine an observed metric of the vehicle system. The one or more processors are also configured to (c) compare the observed metric to a reference metric and (d) modify the operational settings of the vehicle system based on differences between the observed and the reference metrics.

System includes a control system used to control operation of a vehicle system as the vehicle system moves along a route. The vehicle system includes a plurality of system vehicles in which adjacent system vehicles are operatively coupled such that the adjacent system vehicles are permitted to move relative to one another. The control system includes one or more processors that are configured to (a) receive operational settings of the vehicle system and (b) input the operational settings into a system model of the vehicle system to determine an observed metric of the vehicle system. The one or more processors are also configured to (c) compare the observed metric to a reference metric and (d) modify the operational settings of the vehicle system based on differences between the observed and the reference metrics.

System includes a control system used to control operation of a vehicle system as the vehicle system moves along a route. The vehicle system includes a plurality of system vehicles in which adjacent system vehicles are operatively coupled such that the adjacent system vehicles are permitted to move relative to one another. The control system includes one or more processors that are configured to (a) receive operational settings of the vehicle system and (b) input the operational settings into a system model of the vehicle system to determine an observed metric of the vehicle system. The one or more processors are also configured to (c) compare the observed metric to a reference metric and (d) modify the operational settings of the vehicle system based on differences between the observed and the reference metrics.

A solution for managing effect-generating operations is provided. Data regarding one or multiple types of effects being generated by the operations can be acquired and analyzed. When necessary, actions can be initiated to benefit affected individuals or to improve the operations, e.g., by mitigating a source of excessive effects. In an illustrative application, the effect-generating operations are train operations and the types of effects include acoustic and/or vibration effects.

A solution for managing effect-generating operations is provided. Data regarding one or multiple types of effects being generated by the operations can be acquired and analyzed. When necessary, actions can be initiated to benefit affected individuals or to improve the operations, e.g., by mitigating a source of excessive effects. In an illustrative application, the effect-generating operations are train operations and the types of effects include acoustic and/or vibration effects.

A method for determining a signal aspect representing the vacant or occupied state of a track section for a rail vehicle, in particular a maintenance or construction vehicle, on a CBTC track. In this case, the rail vehicle does not have an on-board CBTC device. In order to dispense with special hardware, an app on a smartphone initiates the following steps: A) photographing of a track beacon in the direction of travel, B) determining the ID (identification signature) of the track beacon, C) transmitting of the track beacon ID to a CBTC track control center and D) receiving of the signal aspect determined by the CBTC track control center for the track section starting with the track beacon.