A parking verification system and method, a movement verification system and method, and a monitoring system and method for a train, or other transit vehicle.

The present invention concerns a safety contact for a safety line in a train, the safety contact comprising a controller and a safety switch circuit. wherein the controller comprises a sensor input for receiving signals indicating failure, wherein the safety contact comprises an input for a safety line input signal. which input is operably connected to the controller, whereby the controller is configured to receive a control signal representing a safety line state which is dependent on the safety line input signal received at the input, wherein the safety switch circuit comprises a set of at least one safety switch, the safety switch being positioned between a power supply and an output. wherein the controller is configured to: upon receiving a control signal indicating a working safety line state and a sensor input value representing no safety function failure. close said safety switch of the safety line circuit. thereby putting an output signal on the output. the output signal indicating a working safety line state. and upon receiving a control signal indicating a non-working safety line state or a sensor input value representing a safety function failure. open said safety switch of the safety line circuit. thereby essentially interrupting the safety line.

A system is provided that include at least one positioning system that can detect a location or position of a vehicle or a portion of a vehicle group that includes the vehicle, at least one sensor positioned on or associated with the vehicle that can generate sensor data of a determined parameter or condition, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the positioning system. The controller can determine that a hazard event has occurred based at least partially on sensor data, and can communicate a hazard event notification based at least in part on the location data and the sensor data to a remote server.

A method and a route and train configuration for switching a train off and on in a parking position include a train side automatic train control device and a route side train monitoring system. In order to switch the train on and off economically and independently from personnel, the following steps are provided: A) entering the parking position, wherein a train reclosing unit, together with a route side coupling module connected to the train monitoring system, establishes an electrical connection; B) switching off train side subsystems using the train control device; C) shutting down and switching off the train control device; D) event triggered reactivation of the train control device using the train reclosing unit; E) switching on remaining train subsystems by using the train control device, and F) exiting the parking position, while separating electrical connection between the reclosing unit and the coupling module.

Within a partitioned system, a first system partition operates in a safety domain in which predictable operation of the first system partition is necessary to protect the system or operators of the system from harm. A second system partition operates in a user domain in which information supplied by the second system partition is not sufficiently reliable to be used by the first system partition within the safety domain. A mediator controller is connected between the first system partition and the second system partition. The mediator controller receives the information supplied by the first system partition. The mediator controller monitors and supervises use of the information by the second system partition in order maintain requirements of the safety domain to protect the system or operators of the system from harm.

This system includes a ground ATC and an on board ATC, which is switched from an active mode toward a standby mode and vice versa by a wake-up unit. In the standby mode, only the following components remain powered: odometry device; a main computer; a radio communication device between the on board ATC and the ground ATC; the wake-up unit. The main computer is programmed so as, in the standby mode, to verify that the movement of the train measured by the odometry device from the switching from the active mode to the standby mode is zero and, in the affirmative, to send the ground ATC an instantaneous position of the train using the radio communication device.

A sensor arrangement for position determination of a rail vehicle includes at least two sensors that can be attached to the rail vehicle. Each of the sensors is configured to ascertain a position speed and to be disposed on the rail vehicle at different positions transverse to the direction of travel. At least one processing apparatus which is connected to the sensors is configured to process the position speeds ascertained by the sensors. An apparatus for position determination of a rail vehicle, a rail vehicle, and a method for position determination for a rail vehicle are also provided.

A method and a system for transmitting enforceable instructions in a positive train control (PTC) system includes receiving, by a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) calculator, at least one enforceable instruction from railroad systems. The CRC calculator calculates at least one enforceable instruction CRC based at least partly on the at least one enforceable instruction and transmits the at least one enforceable instruction CRC to a back office server of the PTC system and/or an on-board system of a locomotive. Methods for cyclic redundancy check (CRC) hazard mitigation in a positive train control (PTC) system and verifying enforceable instruction data on-board a train are also disclosed.

A method for operating a data transfer system includes connecting a first data transfer device to a first data line which is connected to a first data interface, connecting a second data transfer device to a second data line which is connected to a second data interface, and transferring data over the first data interface. In order to achieve reliable operation of the data transfer system, a transfer of data through the second data interface is prevented. A data transfer system and a rail vehicle set having a plurality of railcars and a data transfer system are also provided.

A method includes obtaining data relating to operation of a first vehicle in a vehicle consist that includes the first vehicle and a second vehicle communicatively coupled with each other by a communication channel. The first vehicle includes a first electronic component performing functions for the first vehicle using the first data. The method also includes communicating the first data over the communication channel from the first vehicle to a second electronic component disposed onboard the second vehicle responsive to the first electronic component being unable to perform the one or more functions for the first vehicle using the first data. The method further includes performing the functions of the first electronic component with the second electronic component using the first data that is received from the first vehicle.