A track verification and signal testing system includes a central remote location comprising a computer system, the computer system hosting multiple workstations and monitors allowing test engineers to control inputs, and to monitor outputs, signals, and information associated with the verification and testing of a railroad track installation The computer system is in communication via a communications link with one or more automated field simulators, or control point field emulators (CPFE), placed in one or more signal bungalows housing the signal system circuitry associated with one or more sections of track.

A system and method obtain first image data of a route at a location of interest from a first optical sensor disposed onboard a vehicle system moving along the route. The first image data depicts the route at the location of interest prior to passage of the vehicle system over the route at the location of interest. Second image data of the route at the location of interest is obtained from a second optical sensor disposed onboard the vehicle system. The second image data depicts the route at the location of interest after passage of the vehicle system over the route at the location of interest. A determination is made as to whether a change in the route has occurred at the location of interest by comparing the first image data with the second image data.

A system and method obtain first image data of a route at a location of interest from a first optical sensor disposed onboard a vehicle system moving along the route. The first image data depicts the route at the location of interest prior to passage of the vehicle system over the route at the location of interest. Second image data of the route at the location of interest is obtained from a second optical sensor disposed onboard the vehicle system. The second image data depicts the route at the location of interest after passage of the vehicle system over the route at the location of interest. A determination is made as to whether a change in the route has occurred at the location of interest by comparing the first image data with the second image data.

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 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.

An object is to improve the accuracy of prediction of deterioration of railroad ground equipment. Provided is a maintenance assistance system for railroad ground equipment, comprising: an environmental-information storage part storing environmental information containing information on weather observed at a plurality of geographical points and on geographical conditions at the geographical points; and an environmental-load estimation part holding a relational formula indicating the relationship between aged deterioration of railroad ground equipment and the environmental information, and configured to, upon specification of railroad ground equipment for which to execute deterioration prediction, acquire the environmental information which is recorded at a point near the installed position of the railroad ground equipment, during the target period of the deterioration prediction, and predict the degree of aged deterioration of the railroad ground equipment by using the acquired environmental information and the relational formula.

An object is to improve the accuracy of prediction of deterioration of railroad ground equipment. Provided is a maintenance assistance system for railroad ground equipment, comprising: an environmental-information storage part storing environmental information containing information on weather observed at a plurality of geographical points and on geographical conditions at the geographical points; and an environmental-load estimation part holding a relational formula indicating the relationship between aged deterioration of railroad ground equipment and the environmental information, and configured to, upon specification of railroad ground equipment for which to execute deterioration prediction, acquire the environmental information which is recorded at a point near the installed position of the railroad ground equipment, during the target period of the deterioration prediction, and predict the degree of aged deterioration of the railroad ground equipment by using the acquired environmental information and the relational formula.

Tools .[.(such as system, apparatus, methodology, etc.).]. may be provided to control traffic over a railway track section, .Iadd.and more particularly, .Iaddend.when a railway worker is working on or near the track section.[.. Move particularly, when traffic over the track section is to be blocked.]., .Iadd.a block is placed to prevent trains from traversing the track section. Further, .Iaddend.a release code is generated and sent to .[.an electronic contact address of the railway worker. Traffic through the track section is blocked until the release code is entered in.]. .Iadd.a user terminal. The block is removed from the track section when the release code is received by .Iaddend.the system.

Tools .[.(such as system, apparatus, methodology, etc.).]. may be provided to control traffic over a railway track section, .Iadd.and more particularly, .Iaddend.when a railway worker is working on or near the track section.[.. Move particularly, when traffic over the track section is to be blocked.]., .Iadd.a block is placed to prevent trains from traversing the track section. Further, .Iaddend.a release code is generated and sent to .[.an electronic contact address of the railway worker. Traffic through the track section is blocked until the release code is entered in.]. .Iadd.a user terminal. The block is removed from the track section when the release code is received by .Iaddend.the system.

Method for monitoring at least one point system of a railway network comprising the steps of placing several sensors in correspondence of said at least one point system; acquiring from said sensors current and voltage signals of a point machine during a maneuver; and segmenting the signals of the maneuver according to different predetermined phases of movement. Then extracting predetermined features from each segment; comparing the extracted features with a set of predetermined values which represent a healthy maneuver, thus obtaining a global indicator representative of the conditions of the maneuver at the point system; and comparing said global indicator with a failure threshold, and if it exceeds said failure threshold, detecting a failure in the point system.