The present invention concerns a method and system for reducing the electric power consumption of a railway system comprising at least one catenary, trains and at least one substation connected to sections of catenary and providing electric power to the catenary, wherein during the braking of the trains, the braking trains provide electric power to the catenary. The substation is associated to one device for reducing the electric power consumption and the invention: detects the presence of a braking train in one of the section connected to the substation, interrupts the electric power provided by the substation to the catenary if the presence of the braking train is detected, detects the absence of braking trains in each section connected to the substation, means for enabling the electric power to be provided by the substation to the catenary if the absence of braking trains is detected.

The present invention concerns a method and system for reducing the electric power consumption of a railway system comprising at least one catenary, trains and at least one substation connected to sections of catenary and providing electric power to the catenary, wherein during the braking of the trains, the braking trains provide electric power to the catenary. The substation is associated to one device for reducing the electric power consumption and the invention: detects the presence of a braking train in one of the section connected to the substation, interrupts the electric power provided by the substation to the catenary if the presence of the braking train is detected, detects the absence of braking trains in each section connected to the substation, means for enabling the electric power to be provided by the substation to the catenary if the absence of braking trains is detected.

A ride control system for controlling a plurality of vehicles on a path includes a path processor and a bi-directional voting circuit in circuit with the path processor. Each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles may include a vehicle processor supported by the at least one vehicle and shunt relays in circuit with the at least one vehicle processor. Each vehicle processor may be configured to close a respective shunt relay upon a predetermined condition of the vehicle whereby the bi-directional voting circuit is activated to notify all other vehicles.

A ride control system for controlling a plurality of vehicles on a path includes a path processor and a bi-directional voting circuit in circuit with the path processor. Each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles may include a vehicle processor supported by the at least one vehicle and shunt relays in circuit with the at least one vehicle processor. Each vehicle processor may be configured to close a respective shunt relay upon a predetermined condition of the vehicle whereby the bi-directional voting circuit is activated to notify all other vehicles.

A sensor system senses one or more characteristics of vehicles in a vehicle system with sensors disposed onboard the vehicles and communicate data representative of the one or more characteristics from the sensors to one or more of a controller or a control system of the vehicle system. The data communicated from the sensors onboard the same vehicle can be synchronously communicated with respect to the sensors onboard the same vehicle and asynchronously communicated with respect to the sensors disposed onboard one or more other vehicles in the vehicle system. The systems and methods can direct components disposed onboard a vehicle system to change operations, monitor data output by sensors operatively connected with the components, and determine which of the sensors are operatively connected with which of the components based on the operations of the components that are changed and the data that is output by the sensors.

A sensor system senses one or more characteristics of vehicles in a vehicle system with sensors disposed onboard the vehicles and communicate data representative of the one or more characteristics from the sensors to one or more of a controller or a control system of the vehicle system. The data communicated from the sensors onboard the same vehicle can be synchronously communicated with respect to the sensors onboard the same vehicle and asynchronously communicated with respect to the sensors disposed onboard one or more other vehicles in the vehicle system. The systems and methods can direct components disposed onboard a vehicle system to change operations, monitor data output by sensors operatively connected with the components, and determine which of the sensors are operatively connected with which of the components based on the operations of the components that are changed and the data that is output by the sensors.

The present disclosure provides an automated rail inspection system. The present disclosure also provides a method for calibrating a strain gage based neutral temperature measurement system.

The present disclosure provides an automated rail inspection system. The present disclosure also provides a method for calibrating a strain gage based neutral temperature measurement system.

A train control system configured to automatically execute and ensure compliance with all requirements for radio blocking. A radio blocking module of the physical train control system of a lead train retrieves and displays the appropriate clearance points for acceptance by the train driver of the lead train. Once accepted, the clearance points are transmitted to a trailing train for display and acceptance by the train driver of the trailing train. An accepted clearance point is passed to the train control system for use as the next destination point for navigation purposes. The train control system can also electronically log all acts to comply with applicable radio blocking requirements.

A train control system configured to automatically execute and ensure compliance with all requirements for radio blocking. A radio blocking module of the physical train control system of a lead train retrieves and displays the appropriate clearance points for acceptance by the train driver of the lead train. Once accepted, the clearance points are transmitted to a trailing train for display and acceptance by the train driver of the trailing train. An accepted clearance point is passed to the train control system for use as the next destination point for navigation purposes. The train control system can also electronically log all acts to comply with applicable radio blocking requirements.