A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.

A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.

A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.

A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.

A safety method is provided for a railway network which is divided into track segments by track elements and can be traveled by vehicles. In the method the vehicles request, from selections of the track elements, steps for assignment as a travel path element. Each of the selected track elements automatically assigns itself as a travel path element for each vehicle that requests the steps for assignment as a travel path element, under predetermined conditions. For temporal optimization of the assignment of the track elements as travel path elements, the respective track element automatically assigns itself to the respective vehicle, in that in reaction to a first request of the respective vehicle in a demand type requested by the respective vehicle, the track element carries out its approval as a travel path element for the respective vehicle.

A method of railroad track control includes partitioning a physical track block into a plurality of virtual track blocks, the physical track block defined by first and second insulated joints disposed at corresponding first and second ends of a length of railroad track. The presence of an electrical circuit discontinuity in one of the plurality of virtual track blocks; is detected and in response a corresponding virtual track block position code indicating the presence of the discontinuity in the one of the plurality of virtual track blocks is generated.

A safety method is provided for a railway network which is divided into track segments by track elements and can be traveled by vehicles. In the method the vehicles request, from selections of the track elements, steps for assignment as a travel path element. Each of the selected track elements automatically assigns itself as a travel path element for each vehicle that requests the steps for assignment as a travel path element, under predetermined conditions. For temporal optimization of the assignment of the track elements as travel path elements, the respective track element automatically assigns itself to the respective vehicle, in that in reaction to a first request of the respective vehicle in a demand type requested by the respective vehicle, the track element carries out its approval as a travel path element for the respective vehicle.

The system can include: a motion planner and a switch management system. The system can optionally include or operate in conjunction with a vehicle controller, a user interface (UI), and a track data system. However, the system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The system functions to facilitate vehicle control and/or manage authority, in the form of exclusive track reservations, within a rail network. Additionally or alternatively, the system can function to manage switch positions (and/or operation based on switch positions) within a rail network.

A system and method for virtual block stick circuits is presented. The present disclosure implements specialized algorithms adapted to determine the true status of a virtual block based on multiple inputs from different perspectives. In one embodiment, the system can use the far house perspective of that virtual track segment and the PTC hazard for the near virtual track segment directly adjacent to the near house uses the near house perspective of that virtual track segment. For the middle virtual track segments, the near house perspectives of the middle virtual track segments are held TRUE if they are already TRUE when the train first enters the block, using stick circuits for the near house perspective of the middle track circuits. The vital application can then indicate the true state of the virtual track segment as occupied (FALSE), to protect the train from trains that follow.

The system can include: a motion planner and a switch management system. The system can optionally include or operate in conjunction with a vehicle controller, a user interface (UI), and a track data system. However, the system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The system functions to facilitate vehicle control and/or manage authority, in the form of exclusive track reservations, within a rail network. Additionally or alternatively, the system can function to manage switch positions (and/or operation based on switch positions) within a rail network.