An urban rail transportation fusion signaling system and method. The fusion signaling system includes: an autonomous train supervision system, configured to send a train operation plan; a first wayside management system, operating under a Train Autonomous Circumambulate System (TACS) system and configured to generate line resource allocation information according to the train operation plan; a second wayside management system, operating under a Commnunications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system and configured to generate operation permission information according to the train operation plan; and a car controller, provided on a rail transportation train and configured to: perform traffic control according to the line resource allocation information when the train is traveling under the TACS system; or perform traffic control according the operation permission information when the train is traveling under the CBTC system.

A job aid system and method determine conditions in which a vehicle system is operating or will operate during movement of the vehicle system along one or more routes. A context-sensitive action checklist is selected or generated based on one or more of the conditions. Input from the operator of the vehicle system is received in response to one or more action items in the context-sensitive action checklist that is presented to the operator. An alertness level of the operator is determined based on the input that is received from the operator. One or more alerting actions can be implemented to increase the alertness level of the operator.

A job aid system and method determine conditions in which a vehicle system is operating or will operate during movement of the vehicle system along one or more routes. A context-sensitive action checklist is selected or generated based on one or more of the conditions. Input from the operator of the vehicle system is received in response to one or more action items in the context-sensitive action checklist that is presented to the operator. An alertness level of the operator is determined based on the input that is received from the operator. One or more alerting actions can be implemented to increase the alertness level of the operator.

A system, in particular for controlling signal towers in rail traffic, includes at least a plurality of redundant replicants for generating redundant control signals. A voter structure having a plurality of majority voters is also provided. Each majority voter has a respective output and inputs that are connected to the outputs of the plurality of redundant replicants. The voter structure and the plurality of redundant replicants are separated from one another in terms of hardware, the outputs of the plurality of majority voters are connected to the inputs of a discriminator voter and the output of the discriminator voter provides a control signal, in particular for controlling signal towers. The discriminator voter only emits a control signal when the inputs thereof are not at variance.

The system can include a dispatcher and a plurality of cars. However, the system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The system 100 functions to enable platooning of the plurality of cars (e.g., by way of the method S100).

A cargo container loading and unloading system for a transportation system, the cargo container loading and unloading system including a loading zone; and at least one opening connecting the loading zone to a transportation tube of the transportation system.

A cargo container loading and unloading system for a transportation system, the cargo container loading and unloading system including a loading zone; and at least one opening connecting the loading zone to a transportation tube of the transportation system.

A system and method for simulating positive train control (PTC) systems in a local and controlled environment using software and hardware. The system can simulate various functionalities of the PTC system in the environment using software and hardware components. The system can instruct the software of a train management computer (TMC) to control electromechanical valves to simulate air compression on brake pipes in response to the PTC system executing a penalty on the locomotive. The system can display statuses of various systems on the locomotive to a user using a cab display unit (CDU). The system can control the software and hardware components to simulate warnings and actions from the PTC system allowing locomotive engineers and conductors to experience the PTC system for optimum training.

A method for operating a rail vehicle network, in which a plurality of rail vehicles travel. The rail vehicles determine their respective position in the rail vehicle network by forming position information. Each of the rail vehicles transmits its position information to a route-side central unit, and the central unit forwards the received position information to all rail vehicles in the rail vehicle network. The rail vehicles each have their own collision monitoring unit, which checks the received position information for a possible risk of a collision with one or more of the other rail vehicles, and generates a collision warning signal in the event that a collision risk is established.

A method for operating a rail vehicle network, in which a plurality of rail vehicles travel. The rail vehicles determine their respective position in the rail vehicle network by forming position information. Each of the rail vehicles transmits its position information to a route-side central unit, and the central unit forwards the received position information to all rail vehicles in the rail vehicle network. The rail vehicles each have their own collision monitoring unit, which checks the received position information for a possible risk of a collision with one or more of the other rail vehicles, and generates a collision warning signal in the event that a collision risk is established.