System and methods are provided for warning a worker of a rail vehicle, or an operator of the rail vehicle of the worker. The system includes a worker device, a vehicle device, and a central server. The devices and server operate on one or a combination of actual or simulated satellite navigational signals, and beacon signals to determine the position of the devices, to generate a warning. The position determination may prioritize beacon signals over satellite navigation signals. The position determination may involve correcting a calculated position based on a measured power level of the beacon signal received from the beacon transmitter, an elapsed time since a previous beacon signal was last received by the device from the beacon transmitter, an elapsed time since a previous satellite navigation signal was received by the device, or an accuracy of the position of the device based on the satellite navigation signal.

A method for operating a railway system. Cryptographic data which includes at least one key and/or at least one digital certificate is stored in a storage device of a vehicle of the railway system. The vehicle transmits the cryptographic data to at least one track-side device of the railway system when the vehicle is in communication range of the least one track-side device as part of the train travel. There is also described a corresponding rail vehicle of a railway system.

An on-board system increases a forward margin distance and a backward margin distance to expand an train occupancy range, when it is determined that position correction communications with a balise fail to be performed when a train passes through an installation position of the balise, that is, when it is determined that a detection failure has occurred. The expanded train occupancy range is restored to the train occupancy range before being expanded, when it is determined that the position correction communications have been successfully performed with a next balise, that is, when detection has been successfully performed.

A rail state monitoring apparatus (1) includes: first and second transmission antennas (101, 102) to transmit first and second electric signals to rails (5, 6), respectively; first reception antenna (201) to receive a surface wave (21) of the first electric signal propagated through rail (5) and guided wave (32) of the second electric signal propagated through loop coil (10); second reception antenna (202) to receive surface wave (22) of the second electric signal propagated through rail (6) and guided wave (31) of the first electric signal propagated through loop coil (10); and a processor. The processor obtains received powers of the respective electric signals received by first and second reception antennas (201, 202), determines a rail state from “good”, “rail broken”, “rail crack”, or “rail surface anomaly” based on the received powers, and outputs the rail state as rail state information.

A rail state monitoring apparatus (1) includes: first and second transmission antennas (101, 102) to transmit first and second electric signals to rails (5, 6), respectively; first reception antenna (201) to receive a surface wave (21) of the first electric signal propagated through rail (5) and guided wave (32) of the second electric signal propagated through loop coil (10); second reception antenna (202) to receive surface wave (22) of the second electric signal propagated through rail (6) and guided wave (31) of the first electric signal propagated through loop coil (10); and a processor. The processor obtains received powers of the respective electric signals received by first and second reception antennas (201, 202), determines a rail state from “good”, “rail broken”, “rail crack”, or “rail surface anomaly” based on the received powers, and outputs the rail state as rail state information.

A method and a system for transmitting enforceable instructions in a vehicle control (VC) system includes receiving, by a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) calculator, at least one enforceable instruction from vehicle systems. The CRC calculator calculates at least one enforceable instruction CRC based at least partly on the at least one enforceable instruction and transmits the at least one enforceable instruction CRC to a back office server of the VC system and/or an on-board system of a vehicle. Methods for cyclic redundancy check (CRC) hazard mitigation in a vehicle control (VC) system and verifying enforceable instruction data on-board a vehicle are also disclosed.

A vehicle operating device includes a portable display unit configured to display a state of a vehicle, a portable input unit configured to receive operation information of the vehicle input thereto on the basis of a displayed content by the display unit, a first information processing unit configured to process first information among input operation information, a second information processing unit configured to process second information, which is different from the first information, among the input operation information, an interlock system configured to enable only the first information to be processed in an operating state and enable the first information and the second information to be processed in a released state, and a portable wireless output unit configured to output an operation signal of the vehicle based only on the first information processed in the operating state.

A method includes wirelessly receiving, at a lead remote control (RC) communication device onboard a lead vehicle of a vehicle system, a request signal from an operator control unit (OCU). The method also includes communicating a reconfiguration signal from a lead communication device of the lead vehicle to a remote communication device disposed onboard a first displaced vehicle responsive to receipt of the request signal. Further, the method includes, responsive to receiving the reconfiguration signal, reconfiguring an RC communication device onboard the first displaced vehicle to switch from a first state where the RC communication device onboard the first displaced vehicle receives a control signal from the OCU for remotely controlling operation of the first displaced vehicle to a different, second state where the RC communication device onboard the first displaced vehicle repeats the control signal to the lead RC communication device of the lead vehicle.

Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to support structures for transportation systems. In some embodiments, the support structure comprises a self-supporting arch assembly. The self-supporting arch assembly can be configured to support one or more devices in a transportation system, such as an antenna assembly configured to communicate with a train. In other embodiments, the support structure can comprise a hinged mast assembly comprising a hinge assembly and mast coupled to the hinge assembly. A device, such as an antenna assembly can be disposed at a distal portion of the mast.

A non-stop train system including a plurality of train cars in communication with one another and in communication with an electronic control module. The train system further includes a track having a plurality of drop off and pick up locations. A prepositioned train car is stopped on the track at one of the drop off and pick up locations. A non-stop express train approaches the drop off and pick up location on the track initiating the prepositioned train car to begin departure. The electronic control module is used to adjust the speed of the non-stop express train and the prepositioned train car based on a detected distance such that a front coupler of the non-stop express train couples to the rear coupler of the prepositioned train car while moving along the track.