Systems and methods are provided for decentralized train control. A decentralized train system may include a plurality of wayside control units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each of which being configured for use in a particular train. Each wayside control unit may obtain information corresponding to each train that passes within its communication range, and provide obtained train-related information to each train-mounted unit passing within its communication range. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive train-related information from each wayside control unit that comes within its communication range, process the received train-related information, assess based on the processing of the train-related information conditions relating to operation of train within the railway network, and when at least one condition meets one or more particular criteria, perform or cause performing one or more responsive actions.

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 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.

Whether or not slip-or-skid of a wheel on any one of a plurality of axles of a train to which pulse generators (PGs) are provided has occurred is determined on the basis of speed pulses output from the PGs. When occurrence of slip-or-skid is detected, a train occupancy range is calculated with a front end portion of the train determined on the basis of a forward-side one of train positions obtained on the basis of the speed pulses output by the PGs, and with a rear end portion of the train determined on the basis of a backward-side one of the train positions. Whether or not any of the PGs is abnormal is determined on the basis of the speed pulses or a speed and acceleration/deceleration calculated from the speed pulses.

A vehicle control system receives a proximity signal at a sensor assembly from a vehicle system. The proximity signal indicates that the vehicle system is approaching a location of the sensor assembly. A sensor of the sensor assembly is activated responsive to receiving the proximity signal. One or more characteristics of the vehicle system are sensed as the vehicle system moves by the sensor assembly. A sensor signal that represents the one or more characteristics of the vehicle system is communicated to an onboard controller of the vehicle system and/or an off-board system to control operation of the vehicle system based on the one or more characteristics of the vehicle system.

A signal aspect enforcement method for a rail vehicle includes determining if vehicle position is unknown. The system determines if rail vehicle speed is less than a line-of-sight threshold speed. The system determines the grade of the rail. A worst-case braking distance of rail vehicle is calculated. The signal aspect is determined using a camera system and a beacon system. The system determines if the signal aspect determined by camera system is same as signal aspect determined by beacon system and, if so, determines the route of rail vehicle and speed limit of rail vehicle.

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.

An automatic train operation device includes: a step command start position determining unit to determine whether a train passes through a step command start position that is a position a certain distance before a target stop position of the train; a deceleration command generating unit to generate a deceleration command to control braking force of a braking device in a section from the step command start position that the train passes through to the target stop position at which the train stops; and a travel history storage unit to store travel state information and the deceleration command for the section as a plurality of travel histories. When the step command start position is determined by the step command start position determining unit, the deceleration command generating unit generates the deceleration command by using the travel histories.

Enhanced transit location systems and methods are provided. A method comprises receiving, into a vehicle radio located on a vehicle traveling along a roadway, signals transmitted by wayside radios located along the roadway; and determining a location of the vehicle along the roadway based on the received signals.