A traffic control preemption system monitors an operating state of a railroad crossing, without requiring an interface with railroad crossing equipment, and communicates information to a traffic controller of an adjacent signalized roadway intersection to improve vehicular traffic flow at the railroad crossing. The traffic control preemption system is configured to make real time health assessments of preemption system functionality and provide a degree of redundancy and failsafe operation to the traffic control system.

A traffic control preemption system monitors an operating state of a railroad crossing, without requiring an interface with railroad crossing equipment, and communicates information to a traffic controller of an adjacent signalized roadway intersection to improve vehicular traffic flow at the railroad crossing. The traffic control preemption system is configured to make real time health assessments of preemption system functionality and provide a degree of redundancy and failsafe operation to the traffic control system.

A system (e.g., a target activation system for a transportation network) includes one or more processors configured to be operably coupled onboard a vehicle system having one or more vehicles. The processor(s) are further configured to determine an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle system at a first target location associated with a forward route of the vehicle system, determine a gap time between when the vehicle system leaves the first target location and is estimated to arrive at a second target location, and, based at least in part on the estimated time of arrival, a dwell time of the vehicle system at the first target location, the gap time, an allowable speed or acceleration of the vehicle system, and a designated warning time, generate an activation message configured to control at least one device associated with the second target location.

Controlling a level crossing of a railway track by providing a train having an onboard processor communicating with a wayside processor associated to a level crossing, said train having a forward end and a rear end; moving the train forward along the railway track lowering down gates of the level crossing when train is at a predetermined distance upon detection of the train approaching the level crossing; when the forward end passes over a first reference point defining the beginning of an island area of the level crossing, sending a first message from the onboard safety processor towards the wayside processor informing that the train is approaching the level crossing; maintaining down gates; when the rear end passes over a second reference point defining the end of the island area, sending a second message from the onboard safety processor to the wayside processor informing that the train has left the level crossing; and lifting the gates.

Controlling a level crossing of a railway track by providing a train having an onboard processor communicating with a wayside processor associated to a level crossing, said train having a forward end and a rear end; moving the train forward along the railway track lowering down gates of the level crossing when train is at a predetermined distance upon detection of the train approaching the level crossing; when the forward end passes over a first reference point defining the beginning of an island area of the level crossing, sending a first message from the onboard safety processor towards the wayside processor informing that the train is approaching the level crossing; maintaining down gates; when the rear end passes over a second reference point defining the end of the island area, sending a second message from the onboard safety processor to the wayside processor informing that the train has left the level crossing; and lifting the gates.

A traffic control system (100) includes a railroad crossing control system (10) with a constant warning time device (40), a wheel sensing system (120) with a sensor (122) connected to a rail (20a, 20b) of a railroad track (20) at a predetermined position (P), and a communication network (140) interfacing with the railroad crossing control system (10) and the wheel sensing system (120) and adapted to transmit data. The wheel sensing system (120) provides speed values of a rail vehicle travelling on the railroad track (20), wherein the speed values are transmitted to the railroad crossing control system (10) via the communication network (140) for producing a preemption signal for the traffic signal control system (110). Further, a method for providing a preemption signal for a traffic signal control system (110) is described.

A train detection system for a railway track defines a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side. Two cameras are arranged along the railway track spaced apart from each other. Each camera is placed on either the first lateral side or the second lateral side. The system includes at least one passive target. Each of the passive targets is placed within the field of view of at least one of the cameras and on the opposite lateral side of the railway track with respect to the at least one of the cameras in whose field of view the respective passive target is placed. The system also includes at least one controller adapted to recognise the passive target in the images provided by at least one of the cameras to the controller to determine whether a train is located on the railway track.

A system controls a level crossing of a railway track installation. The railway track installation includes at least one track. The system includes at least two magnetometers associated with the at least one track and placed at corners of a crossing area between the at least one track and a road. The system also includes a level crossing control unit configured for receiving data from the magnetometers. Each magnetometer is arranged to detect a respective magnetic field vector of the earth's magnetic field and to send data representative of the magnetic field vector to the control unit. The control unit is configured to elaborate the data to detect changes in the magnetic field vectors due to the presence of a train in the crossing area and to control the level crossing as a function of the detected changes.

A railroad crossing control system (100) includes a constant warning time device (40) with a control unit (50) configured to produce multiple signals, and a wheel sensing system (120) comprising at least one sensor (122) connected to a rail (20a, 20b) of a railroad track (20) at a predetermined position (P), wherein the wheel sensing system (120) detects a presence of railroad vehicle travelling on the railroad track (20) such that the at least one sensor (122) detects wheels of the railroad vehicle using electromagnetic fields, wherein the wheel sensing system (120) provides speed values of the railroad vehicle to the constant warning time device (40), and wherein the constant warning time device (40) produces a constant warning time signal for controlling a railroad crossing warning device in response to receiving the speed values of the wheel sensing system (120).

A railroad crossing control system (100) includes a constant warning time device (40) with a control unit (50) configured to produce multiple signals, and a wheel sensing system (120) comprising at least one sensor (122) connected to a rail (20a, 20b) of a railroad track (20) at a predetermined position (P), wherein the wheel sensing system (120) detects a presence of railroad vehicle travelling on the railroad track (20) such that the at least one sensor (122) detects wheels of the railroad vehicle using electromagnetic fields, wherein the wheel sensing system (120) provides speed values of the railroad vehicle to the constant warning time device (40), and wherein the constant warning time device (40) produces a constant warning time signal for controlling a railroad crossing warning device in response to receiving the speed values of the wheel sensing system (120).