The present disclosure generally relates to shunt devices for providing multi-fold protection for track workers. For example, a failsafe shunt device may have a pair of end components magnetically couple to two running rails and a central unit connected to the pair of end components via electrical wires. The failsafe shunt device may communicate with an operations control center (OCC) to indicate a presence of the shunt device. Related methods of using disclosed shunt devices and associated systems are also described.

The present disclosure is directed to a current limiting circuit. The current limiting circuit may include a load, a first switch that controls current supplied to the load, and a first resistive network. The current limiting circuit may further include a voltage divider connected across the first resistive network and including a thermistor. The current limiting circuit may further include a first bipolar junction transistor that controls switching of the first switch. The output terminal of the voltage divider may be connected to a base junction of the first bipolar junction transistor.

A train control device, according to one embodiment, includes a storage unit, an acquiring unit, and a control unit. The storage unit is configured to store therein information of a plurality of limit speeds corresponding to a plurality of respective blocks and being determined based on a block on which a preceding train traveling at least one ahead is located. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire schedule information of the preceding train indicating a time at which the preceding train exits each of the blocks. The control unit is configured to determine a limit speed in each of the blocks associated with a travel of a train, based on the acquired schedule information and the information of the limit speeds; and to create a travel plan of the train using the determined limit speed.

A train control device, according to one embodiment, includes a storage unit, an acquiring unit, and a control unit. The storage unit is configured to store therein information of a plurality of limit speeds corresponding to a plurality of respective blocks and being determined based on a block on which a preceding train traveling at least one ahead is located. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire schedule information of the preceding train indicating a time at which the preceding train exits each of the blocks. The control unit is configured to determine a limit speed in each of the blocks associated with a travel of a train, based on the acquired schedule information and the information of the limit speeds; and to create a travel plan of the train using the determined limit speed.

An active fixed block track circuit comprises at least a fixed block section, comprising at least two rails corresponding to each other, each having an isolation connector at two ends thereof and connected to a power supply unit and a traffic signal; a short driving unit, connected to each of the two rails within the fixed block section; and a detection unit, connected to the short driving unit. In this manner, not only the previous rail traffic signal circuit function where no more than one train may be allowed into the same fixed block section is maintained, but also another train approaching from the rear may be prevented from entering the fixed block section when the detection unit at the fixed block section detects an exceptional case happening at a neighboring fixed block section so that the traffic signal unit is switched into a stop traffic signal.

A method operates an automatic train control system which has an electronic signal box, a balize and a frequency track circuit. To configure the train control system so as to be constructed from components of the European train control system and of the frequency track circuit without substantial additional development effort, the balize is acted upon by indicator messages of a first type of the electronic signal box via an actuation module for modular elements having an addressable memory for the number of currently free block route segments. Indicator messages of a third type are created from indicator messages of a second type. A functional relationship between the addresses of the memory and code information of the frequency track circuit is taken into account during the creation of the third indicator messages. A transmitter of the frequency track circuit is acted upon as a result of the third indicator messages.

A method operates an automatic train control system which has an electronic signal box, a balize and a frequency track circuit. To configure the train control system so as to be constructed from components of the European train control system and of the frequency track circuit without substantial additional development effort, the balize is acted upon by indicator messages of a first type of the electronic signal box via an actuation module for modular elements having an addressable memory for the number of currently free block route segments. Indicator messages of a third type are created from indicator messages of a second type. A functional relationship between the addresses of the memory and code information of the frequency track circuit is taken into account during the creation of the third indicator messages. A transmitter of the frequency track circuit is acted upon as a result of the third indicator messages.

A device 10 for a track bound monitoring system for monitoring conditions on a railway track 28 comprising a first rail 26 and a second rail 30 comprises a signal generation unit 12 having an output 13. The signal generation unit is configured to generate an electrical monitoring signal having a monitoring signal characteristic. The output is connectable to at least one of the first rail and the second rail. A sensing unit 16 has an input 17 which is connectable to at least one of the rails. A controller 20 is connected to the generation unit and the sensing unit and is configured to cause the generation unit to generate the monitoring signal which propagates in the first rail and to receive from the sensing unit a return signal. The return signal is derived from the monitoring signal and has a return signal characteristic. The controller is configured to utilize a time difference between the monitoring signal characteristic and the return signal characteristic to monitor conditions on the railway track.

A system and method are for controlling a train traveling along track blocks. A first signal transmitter is installed at a first track block and transmits, using a predefined range of transmission frequencies, first signals for detecting when the train enters the first track block. A second signal transmitter is installed at an adjacent second track block and transmits, using a predefined range of transmission frequencies different from the predefined range of transmission frequencies used by the first signal transmitter, second signals for detecting when the train enters the second track block. One or more signal receivers on board of the train are configured to receive the transmitted first and second signals, and an onboard controller is configured, based on signals supplied by the one or more receivers indicative of the first and second signals received, to identify when the train enters the first or second track blocks.

A system and method are for controlling a train traveling along track blocks. A first signal transmitter is installed at a first track block and transmits, using a predefined range of transmission frequencies, first signals for detecting when the train enters the first track block. A second signal transmitter is installed at an adjacent second track block and transmits, using a predefined range of transmission frequencies different from the predefined range of transmission frequencies used by the first signal transmitter, second signals for detecting when the train enters the second track block. One or more signal receivers on board of the train are configured to receive the transmitted first and second signals, and an onboard controller is configured, based on signals supplied by the one or more receivers indicative of the first and second signals received, to identify when the train enters the first or second track blocks.