A grade crossing control system (400, 600) includes a track circuit with a grade crossing predictor (GCP) system (40), and at least one auxiliary shunting device (420, 430) connected to the rails (20a, 20b) of the railroad track (20), wherein a railroad vehicle travelling on the railroad track (20) causes a change of impedance when entering the track circuit, wherein the at least one auxiliary shunting device (420, 430) detects a presence of the railroad vehicle travelling on the railroad track (20) and generates an auxiliary change of the impedance of the track circuit, and wherein the GCP system (40) generates grade crossing activation signals in response to the change of the impedance or the auxiliary change of the impedance of the track circuit. The auxiliary shunting device is provided to improve reliability in case of poor shunting. In a first implementation the auxiliary shunting device is an additional shunt (428) between rails and within the approaching distance (AL), wherein the shunt is switched on by a separate vehicle detector (422). In a second implementation the termination shunt (SI) is switched off by a vehicle detector (422) before the approaching distance (AL).

The present invention relates generally to a train direction detection device and a method of determining the direction of travel. The train direction detection device analyzes the characteristics, such as impedance, of an electrical circuit implemented on a railroad to determine the direction of approach of a train. The invention is adapted to integrate with occupancy or grade crossing circuits commonly used by railroads at grade crossings.

To locate a shunt, the shunt includes an RF transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit an identifier of the shunt such as the configured shunt frequency. The shunt may include switches or memory locations that may be configured by an installer to correspond to the configured shunt frequency. Other embodiments employ switches or sensors influenced by jumpers installed in the shunt to configure the frequency of the shunt. A portable device receives a transmission including the identifier and displays it along with an indication of the received signal strength of the transmission, and maintenance personnel move the portable device along the track to locate the highest received signal strength, which indicates the location of the shunt. The shunt may also include a test circuit that may be configurable to generate a test frequency, determine a parameter indicative of shunt performance, and output a signal based on the parameter.

A railroad crossing indication device (250) includes a processing unit (350) for receiving and processing data provided by a constant warning time device (40) in communication with a railroad track (20), wherein the data relate to a train approaching the railroad crossing, and a screen unit (300, 400, 500) for displaying information of the train approaching the railroad crossing based upon the data provided by the constant warning time device (40). Furthermore, a railroad crossing indication system (200) and a method (600) for displaying information at railroad crossings are disclosed.

A railroad crossing indication device (250) includes a processing unit (350) for receiving and processing data provided by a constant warning time device (40) in communication with a railroad track (20), wherein the data relate to a train approaching the railroad crossing, and a screen unit (300, 400, 500) for displaying information of the train approaching the railroad crossing based upon the data provided by the constant warning time device (40). Furthermore, a railroad crossing indication system (200) and a method (600) for displaying information at railroad crossings are disclosed.

A system includes at least one application device, a control unit, and at least one processor. The at least one application device is conductively or inductively coupled with at least one of a first conductive track or a second conductive track. The control unit is configured to control supply of electric current from a power source to the at least one application device to electrically inject at least one examination signal into the conductive tracks. The at least one processor is configured to monitor the one or more electrical characteristics of at least one of the first or second conductive tracks, and to identify a construction feature of the route based on the one or more electrical characteristics, wherein the construction feature corresponds to a man-made aspect of the route.

A system includes at least one application device, a control unit, and at least one processor. The at least one application device is conductively or inductively coupled with at least one of a first conductive track or a second conductive track. The control unit is configured to control supply of electric current from a power source to the at least one application device to electrically inject at least one examination signal into the conductive tracks. The at least one processor is configured to monitor the one or more electrical characteristics of at least one of the first or second conductive tracks, and to identify a construction feature of the route based on the one or more electrical characteristics, wherein the construction feature corresponds to a man-made aspect of the route.

The present invention relates generally to a train direction detection device and a method of determining the direction of travel. The train direction detection device analyzes the characteristics, such as impedance, of an electrical circuit implemented on a railroad to determine the direction of approach of a train. The invention is adapted to integrate with occupancy or grade crossing circuits commonly used by railroads at grade crossings.