Abstract: A system and method for examining a route and/or vehicle system obtain a route parameter and/or a vehicle parameter from discrete examinations of the route and/or the vehicle system. The system includes a controller and route examination equipment. The route examination equipment obtains a route parameter indicative of a condition of a route over which a vehicle system travels. The controller receives the route parameter, and examines the route parameter to determine the condition of the route. The controller can control at least one operational aspect of the vehicle system in response to the determined condition of the route.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A transportation safety apparatus and method for the detection of obstacles which lie off the line-of-sight or beyond the field of view of a moving vehicle entails shooting a laser beam through the air from a moving vehicle, capturing the beam and passing it to a fiberoptic relay which transmits a laser pulse to a distant site, and receiving a reflection thereof if the site is clear of obstacles. The pulses are received within about 10-20 microseconds per kilometer of relay length from the time of launching, permitting monitoring of the probe-site in real-time.

Abstract: Adjacent stations along a single track railroad without continuous train detection, are coupled by a communication channel over which distinctive signals requesting, acknowledging, accepting, and confirming completion of, train movements are transmitted. The operator at the departure station manually initiates the transmission of a first signal requesting a train movement to the adjacent station. The other station operator acknowledges the movement request by manually actuating the transmission of a second distinct signal accepting the move. The two signals jointly establish the requested traffic direction through the single track and clear the departure signal for the train. Occupancy of the single track by the train locks the channel to inhibit other movement requests, thus protecting the train while moving through the non-detection stretch. Arrival of the train at the far station is registered and confirmed by the operator who manually actuates the transmission of a train complete third signal.