In a method for operating a system having first and additional mobile parts and having a stationary controller, and a system for carrying out a method, the system has a connection between the controller and the first mobile part and between the controller and the additional mobile parts. The first mobile part detects and transmits to the controller its position and/or the position of its rear edge, and each additional mobile part detects and transmits to the controller its position and/or the position of its front edge. The controller determines the additional mobile parts most closely adjacent to and following the first mobile part and transmits the position and/or the position of the rear edge of the first mobile part to the additional mobile part. The following mobile part adds its braking distance, to which a safety distance and a safety range are added, to the position and/or to the front edge of the next-closest, following mobile part and monitors this calculated position for collision with the rear edge of the first mobile part.

Disclosed are a method and device for detecting a direction of motion of a wheel on a rail track. The device includes at least one magnet for providing a magnetic field; a magnetic field sensor for sensing a magnetic field value indicative for a flux density, or a change in the flux density of the provided magnetic field; and at least one processor in communication with the magnetic field sensor. The at least one processor is configured to: obtain a plurality of the magnetic field values for respective times from the magnetic field sensor; and to analyse the obtained plurality of magnetic field values such that a direction of motion of a wheel passing the device is obtained.

The present invention relates generally to a train direction detection device and a method of determining the direction of travel. The train direction detection device analyzes the characteristics, such as impedance, of an electrical circuit implemented on a railroad to determine the direction of approach of a train. The invention is adapted to integrate with occupancy or grade crossing circuits commonly used by railroads at grade crossings.

A ground control device includes: a location information acquiring unit to acquire location information indicating a train location from a train through a ground wireless device; an on-track information acquiring unit to acquire on-track information indicating whether or not the train is present on a track in a predetermined zone; and a control unit to set a protection zone for the train when the location information acquiring unit cannot acquire the location information, and to cancel a portion of the protection zone on the basis of the on-track information acquired by the on-track information acquiring unit when the train has run in an emergency driving mode.

A train simulator test set is disclosed that can be operably coupled to a railroad track to measure the resting impedance of that track circuit and simulate a train by varying the railroad track inductance over a set period of time. The test set can select the speed, direction, and number of trains to simulate. By applying a variable inductance on the railroad tracks, the test set can simulate a train moving at variable speeds toward and away from the island. The test set can apply inductances to the railroad tracks to simulate two or more trains moving in each direction of the tracks at the same time, along with multiple looks and routes. The train simulator test set can include simulation software to vary the parameters of the train simulation and couple a variable inductance on the railroad tracks.

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.

System includes a controller configured to obtain one or more of a route parameter or a vehicle parameter from discrete examinations of one or more of a route or a vehicle system. The route parameter is indicative of a health of the route over which the vehicle system travels. The vehicle parameter is indicative of a health of the vehicle system. The discrete examinations of the one or more of the route or the vehicle system separated from each other by one or more of location or time. The controller is configured to examine the one or more of the route parameter or the vehicle parameter to determine whether the one or more of the route or the vehicle system is damaged. The system also includes examination equipment configured to continually monitor the one or more of the route or the vehicle system responsive to determining that the one or more of the route or the vehicle is damaged.

A wayside railway sensor package is provided to detect railway wheels for the purposes of assessing the speed and direction of a train in order to align any measured characteristic on said moving train with the proper vehicle. The stand-alone package is easily installed in the web of the rail using standard tools. When used in combination with recent processing techniques, the package can be used to replace one or more components or subsystems on all common wayside detectors while also providing enhanced capabilities and improved reliability. The package also contains sensors that provide data used for assessing additional rail, wheel, and vehicle conditions directly.

A communication system and method receive, at an energy management system disposed onboard a vehicle system formed from a lead vehicle and one or more remote vehicles, trip data that represents one or more characteristics of an upcoming trip of the vehicle system along a route. A selected portion of the trip data is communicated from the energy management system to a distributed power system also disposed onboard the vehicle system. The selected portion includes identifying information and one or more orientations of the one or more remote vehicles. Using the distributed power system, communication links between the lead vehicle and the one or more remote vehicles are established using the identifying information and the one or more orientations.

A method produces movement information describing a movement of a vehicle. Accordingly, the vehicle is connected to a power transmission line, and at least one electrical variable relating to the power transmission line is measured, forming at least one line-based measured value, and the movement information is determined by using the at least one line-based measured value.