A switch reporting device including at least one display screen, a high resolution camera, a code reader, at least one memory and one or more processors, the switch reporting device configured to determine a position of an unmonitored switch in a railway by capturing an image of one or more portions associated with the unmonitored switch, generating switch position data based on the image of one or more portions associated with the unmonitored switch, and updating a switch position record for the unmonitored switch with the switch position data. The switch reporting device includes one or more mobile computers or an EOT device for monitoring and reporting switch position data for an unmonitored switch.

A switch locking system and method of an authorized locomotive for safely traversing a switch in a railway including sending a lock command from a computer onboard the authorized locomotive to a switch controller associated with the switch; determining if a lock confirmation from the switch controller is received by the computer onboard the authorized locomotive; and safely traversing the switch upon receipt of the lock confirmation. The switch locking system and method may include sending an unlock command from a computer onboard the authorized locomotive to a switch controller after the train clears the switch.

A safety method is provided for a railway network which is divided into track segments by track elements and can be traveled by vehicles. In the method the vehicles request, from selections of the track elements, steps for assignment as a travel path element. Each of the selected track elements automatically assigns itself as a travel path element for each vehicle that requests the steps for assignment as a travel path element, under predetermined conditions. For temporal optimization of the assignment of the track elements as travel path elements, the respective track element automatically assigns itself to the respective vehicle, in that in reaction to a first request of the respective vehicle in a demand type requested by the respective vehicle, the track element carries out its approval as a travel path element for the respective vehicle.

A safety method is provided for a railway network which is divided into track segments by track elements and can be traveled by vehicles. In the method the vehicles request, from selections of the track elements, steps for assignment as a travel path element. Each of the selected track elements automatically assigns itself as a travel path element for each vehicle that requests the steps for assignment as a travel path element, under predetermined conditions. For temporal optimization of the assignment of the track elements as travel path elements, the respective track element automatically assigns itself to the respective vehicle, in that in reaction to a first request of the respective vehicle in a demand type requested by the respective vehicle, the track element carries out its approval as a travel path element for the respective vehicle.

The invention discloses a switch control method, device and controller. The method includes the following steps: an on-board device acquiring a switch state and determining a target resource permission to be requested according to the switch state; the on-board device sending a first resource request including the target resource permission to a switch; obtaining a resource state of the switch, and assigning a resource permission on the switch according to the resource state and the target resource permission; and controlling the switch according to a result of the resource permission assignment.

A rail network is divided by track elements into track sections on which vehicles can travel. The vehicles request, from selected track elements, steps for assignment as a route element. Each of the selected track elements is respectively automatically assigned as a route element, under predefined conditions, for each vehicle which requests the steps for assignment as a route element to it, and outputs an assignment confirmation to the respective vehicle. For better protection of construction and/or maintenance work in the hazardous area of the rail network at least one of the track elements forms, after its integration into the rail network, a working zone and does not output the assignment confirmation for the respective vehicle until after an assignment release is input. The track element is provided with a release device into which the assignment release is input manually.

A rail network is divided by track elements into track sections on which vehicles can travel. The vehicles request, from selected track elements, steps for assignment as a route element. Each of the selected track elements is respectively automatically assigned as a route element, under predefined conditions, for each vehicle which requests the steps for assignment as a route element to it, and outputs an assignment confirmation to the respective vehicle. For better protection of construction and/or maintenance work in the hazardous area of the rail network at least one of the track elements forms, after its integration into the rail network, a working zone and does not output the assignment confirmation for the respective vehicle until after an assignment release is input. The track element is provided with a release device into which the assignment release is input manually.

A vehicle management system communicates with monitor devices coupled with a path control device at an intersection between route segments. The path control device switches positions to connect different combinations of the route segments. The system receives signals from the monitor devices to determine which of the route segments are coupled with each other and receives an authority signal from a travel authority system that indicates which of the route segments that the vehicle is authorized to travel. The system directs the vehicle through the path control device responsive to a combination of: (a) receipt of the authority signal and (b) receipt of at least one of the monitor signals or failure to receive one or more of the monitor signals.

A vehicle management system communicates with monitor devices coupled with a path control device at an intersection between route segments. The path control device switches positions to connect different combinations of the route segments. The system receives signals from the monitor devices to determine which of the route segments are coupled with each other and receives an authority signal from a travel authority system that indicates which of the route segments that the vehicle is authorized to travel. The system directs the vehicle through the path control device responsive to a combination of: (a) receipt of the authority signal and (b) receipt of at least one of the monitor signals or failure to receive one or more of the monitor signals.

A switch alignment detection and enforcement system for a switch for a railway track having a normal leg and a reverse leg, the switch having a normal position for entry on the normal leg after the switch and a reverse position for entry on the reverse leg after the switch. The system includes: a first switch monitor device configured to generate at least one signal when the switch is in the normal position; a second switch monitor device configured to generate at least one signal when the switch is in the reverse position; and a train management computer configured or programmed to implement at least one train control action based on: a signal or absence thereof from the first switch monitor device and/or the second switch monitor device; and the content of a form-based authority. A switch alignment detection and enforcement arrangement and method are also disclosed.