A system and a method for monitoring route devices in a transportation network includes one or more processors to receive sensed traffic control device information from first vehicle systems in a transportation network formed from interconnected routes. The sensed traffic control device information indicates states of traffic control devised at intersections between the routes in the transportation network. The one or more processors determine whether the sensed traffic control device information conflicts with stored traffic control device information stored in a database accessible by the one or more processors. The one or more processors send one or more bulletins to one or more second vehicle systems to change movement of the one or more second vehicle systems responsive to determining that the sensed traffic control device information conflicts with the stored traffic control device information.

A system includes a locator device and one or more processors operably connected to the locator device. The locator device determines a trailing distance between a trailing vehicle system that travels along a route and a leading vehicle system that travels along the route ahead of the trailing vehicle system in a same direction of travel. The one or more processors compare the trailing distance to a first proximity distance relative to the leading vehicle system. In response to the trailing distance being less than the first proximity distance, the one or more processors set a permitted power output limit for the trailing vehicle system to be less than a maximum achievable power output for the trailing vehicle system, the permitted power output limit being set based on a power-to-weight ratio of the leading vehicle system.

A train detection system for a railway track defines a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side. Two cameras are arranged along the railway track spaced apart from each other. Each camera is placed on either the first lateral side or the second lateral side. The system includes at least one passive target. Each of the passive targets is placed within the field of view of at least one of the cameras and on the opposite lateral side of the railway track with respect to the at least one of the cameras in whose field of view the respective passive target is placed. The system also includes at least one controller adapted to recognise the passive target in the images provided by at least one of the cameras to the controller to determine whether a train is located on the railway track.

A railroad car location, speed and heading sensor system including at least one self-powered, tie-mounted sensor node that is applicable universally to different railroad settings without using track circuits, inductive loops, radar systems, and wheel counters and associated disadvantages. Reliable and relatively low cost deterministic and redundant car presence detection is realized when multiple sensor nodes are arranged in a network, which may be a wireless mesh network, that is not affected by environmental conditions.

A control arrangement for a railroad level crossing is disclosed. The control arrangement comprises monitoring sensors for monitoring the level crossing, the monitoring sensors arranged to detect an obstruction within a restricted area at or near to the level crossing, and a processing unit associated with the monitoring sensors and arranged to generate an alarm warning when an obstruction is detected. The alarm warning is used to adjust a Movement Authority issued to a train approaching the level crossing.

A locomotive control method includes wirelessly communicating from at least one wireless transmitter positioned proximate a railroad crossing to a wireless locomotive receiver of a locomotive, either directly or indirectly via a wireless wayside transceiver, an indication if the railroad crossing is clear for passage of the locomotive through the railroad crossing, and receiving by the locomotive receiver the indication wirelessly communicated by the at least one portable transmitter. A locomotive controller or an operator of the locomotive can determine, based on the indication received by the locomotive receiver from the at least one portable transmitter, if it is safe for the locomotive to travel through the railroad crossing. The locomotive 4 can then be operated based on the determination.

A train navigation system and method are provided for safely navigating a track loop in a railway, by determining a head end location of a train navigating a track block in a plurality of track blocks associated with a track loop in the railway; determining a train route from the head end location of the train including a forward path and a rearward path, the train route based on a position of a switch in the plurality of track blocks associated with the track loop in the railway; the system and method for dynamically generating an updated train route as the train traverses the railway based on a continuously updated head end location as the train traverses the railway relative to the position of the switch; and safely traversing the track loop in the railway based upon the updated train route.

A method and an apparatus for a train control installation are disclosed, and are based on the absolute permissive block concept. The train control installation employs a plurality of generic absolute block signal units (ABSU), wherein each signal unit includes means for detecting the crossing of a train passed a discrete point, means for exchanging data with adjacent ABSUs, means for generating and communicating a movement authority limit to a train, means for generating and displaying a signal indication, and means for enforcing a stop aspect. The train control installation can be used in conjunction with a communication based train control (CBTC) system to provide a degraded mode of operation without impacting the availability and the reliability of the CBTC system. Further, the train control installation has a self-healing feature to maintain train service during an ABSU failure.

A system for monitoring a grade crossing is provided. The system may include a sensor co-located with a signage apparatus. The sensor may include a sensing area covering a portion of the grade crossing and a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor. The processor may be configured to receive data originating from the sensor and transmit said data to an analytics module communicatively coupled to the system.

A train detection system for a railway track defines a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side. Two cameras are arranged along the railway track spaced apart from each other. Each camera is placed on either the first lateral side or the second lateral side. The system includes at least one passive target. Each of the passive targets is placed within the field of view of at least one of the cameras and on the opposite lateral side of the railway track with respect to the at least one of the cameras in whose field of view the respective passive target is placed. The system also includes at least one controller adapted to recognise the passive target in the images provided by at least one of the cameras to the controller to determine whether a train is located on the railway track.