A train control method is provided for a vehicle on-board controller (VOBC) configured on one end of a train. The method includes: performing a train awakening process; acquiring a running plan sent by an automatic train supervision (ATS) system after the train is successfully awakened; setting, according to a direction indicated by the running plan, a running direction of the train to be downward or upward; when the running direction is set to downward, using, as a head for train positioning, one end of the train not configured with the VOBC, to acquire positioning information of the train; when the running direction is set to upward, using, as the head for train positioning, one end of the train configured with the VOBC, to acquire the positioning information of the train; and controlling, according to the positioning information of the train, the train to pull out of a parking garage.

A special car operation system includes a passenger prediction unit that predicts the number of passengers on a train scheduled to operate and outputs passenger count information indicating the predicted number of passengers, and a car-count determination unit that determines the number of special cars in the train on the basis of the passenger count information output by the passenger prediction unit and outputs car count information indicating the determined number of special cars.

A system for connecting and disconnecting rail vehicle system for storing, transporting, and delivering bulk electric energy using railroads is described. The system includes. The system includes at least one rail vehicle system. The rail vehicle system includes a locomotive and a group of rail cars. The group of rails cars includes several rail cars with energy storage, power electronics and communication system. The rail car further includes a pantograph. The system also includes a plurality of electrical feeders. The electrical feeders are substantially dedicated for providing power transfer to and from the respective groups of rail cars. The system further includes at least one position controls system. The position control system is configured to be coupled to the geographical location of at least one electrical feeder, and it is substantially dedicated for aligning the geographical location of at least one group of rail cars with the geographical location of the respective electrical feeders for the group of rail cars. The system further includes energy management system for the controls of charging and discharging of onboard energy storage on the rail vehicle system.

A method for identifying properties of rail-guided vehicles uses an axle counter to detect vehicle measurement data as the vehicle crosses. The measurement data are analyzed in a computer and speed and distances between vehicle axles are ascertained. A property of the vehicle is ascertained in a computer based on the ascertained speed and distances between axles. A checking step ascertains a pattern of normal distances between axles in that a normal distance between axles calculated by considering a predefined normal speed is assigned to each ascertained distance between axles, and by considering their order, the normal distances between axles merge to form the pattern. The pattern is compared with reference patterns, and upon identified conformity of the pattern and reference pattern, a type linked to the reference pattern is assigned to the vehicle as a property. An apparatus and computer program determining properties of vehicles are also provided.

A communication system may be provided that includes a lead communication assembly configured to be disposed onboard a lead vehicle in a multi-vehicle system, and a remote communication assembly configured to be disposed onboard a remote vehicle in the multi-vehicle system. The lead communication assembly and the remote communication assembly may be configured to communicate with each other via a wired connection extending along the multi-vehicle system from at least the lead vehicle to at least the remote vehicle. Additionally, the lead communication assembly and the remote communication assembly may also be configured to communicate with each other via a wireless connection. The lead communication assembly and the remote communication assembly may also be configured to switch back-and-forth between communicating with each other via the wired connection and via the wireless connection.

A system comprises a first sensor on a first end of a vehicle and an on-board controller coupled to the first sensor. The first sensor is configured to detect a radio frequency (RF) signature of a marker along a guideway. The first sensor is a radar detection device. The on-board controller is configured to determine a first position of the vehicle on the guideway or a first distance from the position of the vehicle to a stopping location along the guideway based on at least the RF signature received from the first sensor. The marker is a metasurface plate comprising a first diffused element, a first retroreflector element, a first absorbing element and a second diffused element between the first retroreflector element and the first absorbing element.

A central device includes an information replacing unit. When the information replacing unit detects, on the basis of contact information acquired from an electric coupler provided in a coupled vehicle in a formation B having a train-information management device that manages vehicle information in accordance with the Ethernet® protocol, that a formation A that includes a train-information management device that manages vehicle information in accordance with the ARCNET protocol is coupled to the formation B, then the information replacing unit replaces vehicle information from the formation A with vehicle information in accordance with the Ethernet® protocol; outputs the replaced vehicle information to the formation B; replaces the vehicle information from the formation B with the vehicle information in accordance with the ARCNET protocol; and outputs the replaced vehicle information to the formation A.

An engineer recertification assistant that utilizes a real-time data acquisition and recording system (DARS), a DARS viewer, and a video analytics system for mobile assets. DARS includes a data recorder, an onboard data manager, and at least one local memory module. The video analytics system processes video data from at least one camera and operational data from the data recorder for critical events and regulatory requirements based on a mobile asset operator's operational performance. The processed video data and operational data is display, along with episodes, exceptions, and user comments, on a display device featuring a web portal. The engineer recertification assistant can further determine an automated score-based recommendation for certification or decertification of the mobile asset operator or can directly certify or decertify the mobile asset operator for gross non-compliance.

A distributed power system includes a communication device and a control device. The communication device is configured to be disposed onboard a first vehicle of a vehicle system that also includes at least a second vehicle. The communication device is configured to communicate a discover message. The control device is configured to be operatively connected to the communication device, and, responsive to the communication device receiving a discover reply message from a second vehicle, to generate a configure message for the communication device to transmit to the second vehicle based on an identifier of the second vehicle included in the discover reply message. The configure message includes instructions for the second vehicle to transition to a remote mode of operation in which remote control of tractive and braking efforts of the second vehicle is enabled.

A switch reporting device including at least one display screen, a high resolution camera, a code reader, at least one memory and one or more processors, the switch reporting device configured to determine a position of an unmonitored switch in a railway by capturing an image of one or more portions associated with the unmonitored switch, generating switch position data based on the image of one or more portions associated with the unmonitored switch, and updating a switch position record for the unmonitored switch with the switch position data. The switch reporting device includes one or more mobile computers or an EOT device for monitoring and reporting switch position data for an unmonitored switch.