A system and a method automatically detect whether a vehicle entering a track section of a railway network is shorter than a predefined length. The method includes detecting at a time T0 an entry of the vehicle on a first track subsection. From the time T0, the occupancy states of at least a first subsection and a third subsection are determined in dependence on the time. The occupancy state is either occupied or free. The occupancy states for at least first and third subsections is reported to an evaluation unit at least until the occupancy state of the first subsection is free. The reported occupancy states determined for the at least first and third subsections are processed by the evaluation unit, and from a temporal evolution of the occupancy states of the first and third subsections, it is determined whether the entering vehicle is shorter than the predefined length.

A system and a method automatically detect whether a vehicle entering a track section of a railway network is shorter than a predefined length. The method includes detecting at a time T0 an entry of the vehicle on a first track subsection. From the time T0, the occupancy states of at least a first subsection and a third subsection are determined in dependence on the time. The occupancy state is either occupied or free. The occupancy states for at least first and third subsections is reported to an evaluation unit at least until the occupancy state of the first subsection is free. The reported occupancy states determined for the at least first and third subsections are processed by the evaluation unit, and from a temporal evolution of the occupancy states of the first and third subsections, it is determined whether the entering vehicle is shorter than the predefined length.

A system for enhancing personnel safety on a railroad track is presented. The system can receive data from sensors and/or a PTC system to determine positions of clients/worker and/or vehicles, and further utilize such data to determine if a vehicle is within a certain proximity of the client/worker location. The system can further generate geofences around clients/vehicles to and determine when such geofences intersect one another. Additionally, the present disclosure can assign severity levels and generate alerts with the assigned severity levels, and such severity levels can indicate how close a vehicle is to a particular location. It is an object of the invention to provide a system for generating alerts to notify personnel when they much retreat to a place of safety.

Systems and methods are provided for worker protection system with ultra-wideband (UWB) based anchors. One or more wayside units placed on or near a track may be configured to form a work zone network, based on ultra-wideband (UWB) communications, corresponding to a work zone in an area surrounding or in proximity to the one or more wayside units. When the work zone network is formed, at least one wayside unit of the one or more wayside units may be configured to obtain ranging information to a train traversing the track, based on communications of UWB signals with at least one train-mounted unit deployed on the train, and the one or more wayside units are configured to generate, based on the ranging information, notifications relating to the train and/or the work zone.

Systems and methods are provided for worker protection system with ultra-wideband (UWB) based anchors. One or more wayside units placed on or near a track may be configured to form a work zone network, based on ultra-wideband (UWB) communications, corresponding to a work zone in an area surrounding or in proximity to the one or more wayside units. When the work zone network is formed, at least one wayside unit of the one or more wayside units may be configured to obtain ranging information to a train traversing the track, based on communications of UWB signals with at least one train-mounted unit deployed on the train, and the one or more wayside units are configured to generate, based on the ranging information, notifications relating to the train and/or the work zone.

The non-ferrous anticorrosive railroad bracket 10 includes a stainless steel threaded shaft 50 for preventing oxidation on moving parts. A sliding clamp plate mechanism 36 is for mounting to virtually any common rail 54 in use throughout the world. The bracket 10 includes a pointed wedge end 14 for providing under-rail installation by displacing stone gravel base underneath. It also includes a tool-less clamping rail attachment mechanism 32 requiring only hand-tighten for installation. There is a large knob-nut 34 for tightening and securing to the rail 54 by easily hand-tightening. A simple folded kick-plate 12 is utilized for kicking by foot, pushing by hand, and hammering so as to easily displace gravel, stones, slag, and other material. Lastly, the folded kick-plate 12 acts as a handle to carry the bracket 10 and an attached sensor detector unit 30.

Systems and methods are provided for decentralized rail signaling and positive train control. A decentralized train control system may include a plurality of wayside units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each configured for use in a train operating in a railway network that support use of the decentralized train control system. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive communicate with any wayside unit and/or train-mounted unit that comes within range, with the communicating including use of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and for generating control information based on the UWB signals, for use in controlling one or more functions associated with operation of the train.

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.

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.

A worker protection system may include a train-mounted unit for use on a train, and one or more wayside units, configured for placement on or near a track traversed by the train. Each of the train-mounted unit and the one or more wayside units may include a corresponding communication component, with one or more antennas, configured to transmit and/or receive wireless signals, with the signals comprise ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and one or more circuits configured for processing signals and data, and for performing applications or functions relating to operations of the corresponding unit. The train-mounted unit may operate cooperatively with the one or more wayside units, to provide alerts to one or more workers operating on or near the track, based on communication of the UWB signals with at least one of the one or more wayside units.