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.

An apparatus for detecting a position of a train, the apparatus includes a reader. The reader electrically irradiates beams along a plurality of directions toward a tag, combines signals received from the tag and obtains a beam direction information toward the tag, and then detects the position of the train using the beam direction information and a tag information of the tag.

The present invention generally relates to support frames and rail cars comprising first and second side drive plates, first and second cross members connecting the respective ends of the side drive plates, third and fourth cross members connecting the side drive plates at a select distance from the first and second cross members, a coupling assembly situated at the first cross member and adapted to connect another rail car thereto, and first and second diagonal support members connected to the first cross member at an angle sufficient to substantially direct forces from the coupling assembly to the third cross member and side drive plates. The support frames and rail cars may be used for conveying bulk materials on a rail transport system.

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.

Bulk goods are transported on a rail network to a terminal which includes a loading with a metering device for measuring an amount of the bulk goods loaded or unloaded. At the terminal there is a control hub connecting to a plurality of portable hand held field computers and a communication system for communication with the rail network to obtain a Car Location Message (CLM), a way bill and mechanical data for each of the railcars. An input to the hub is provided by a plurality of self-powered scanning stations each including an RFID reader having an antenna for reading the RFID tag of an adjacent rail car where each scanning station has two radar proximity transducers responsive to presence of a rail car where the RFID reader has a quiescent mode and the radar proximity detectors activate the reader from the quiescent mode on detection of a railcar.

Bulk goods are transported on a rail network to a terminal which includes a loading with a metering device for measuring an amount of the bulk goods loaded or unloaded. At the terminal there is a control hub connecting to a plurality of portable hand held field computers and a communication system for communication with the rail network to obtain a Car Location Message (CLM), a way bill and mechanical data for each of the railcars. An input to the hub is provided by a plurality of self-powered scanning stations each including an RFID reader having an antenna for reading the RFID tag of an adjacent rail car where each scanning station has two radar proximity transducers responsive to presence of a rail car where the RFID reader has a quiescent mode and the radar proximity detectors activate the reader from the quiescent mode on detection of a railcar.

Support frames and rail cars include first and second side drive plates, first and second cross members connecting the respective ends of the side drive plates, third and fourth cross members connecting the side drive plates at a select distance from the first and second cross members, a coupling assembly situated at the first cross member and adapted to connect another rail car thereto, and first and second diagonal support members connected to the first cross member at an angle sufficient to substantially direct forces from the coupling assembly to the third cross member and side drive plates. The support frames and rail cars may be used for conveying bulk materials on a rail transport system.

Bulk goods are transported on a rail network to a terminal which includes a loading with a metering device for measuring an amount of the bulk goods loaded or unloaded. At the terminal there is a control hub connecting to a plurality of portable hand held field computers and a communication system for communication with the rail network to obtain a Car Location Message (CLM), a way bill and mechanical data for each of the railcars. An input to the hub is provided by a plurality of self-powered scanning stations each including an RFID reader having an antenna for reading the RFID tag of an adjacent rail car where each scanning station has two radar proximity transducers responsive to presence of a rail car where the RFID reader has a quiescent mode and the radar proximity detectors activate the reader from the quiescent mode on detection of a railcar.

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.

A transportation system is provided. The system includes: a highway vehicle, a first set of highway points located along a path of the vehicle, a second set of highway points located along a traffic signal section, at least one RFID tag located at each of the first set and the second set of highway points, and at least one RFID tag reader located on the highway vehicle connected to a network. The at least one RFID tag located at the first set of highway points is configured to store dynamic and static characteristics of the highway vehicle as it passes the first set of highway points and the at least one RFID tag located at the second set of highway points is configured to store dynamic and static characteristics of the vehicle as it passes the second set of highway points.