Abstract:
A train control system and method uses signal information from a next block to change a restrictive signal in a block currently occupied by the train to a less restrictive signal if it can be ascertained that the condition causing the more restrictive signal has changed. This may be accomplished by receiving signal information from the next block while still in the current block and, if the signal information from the next block is no more restrictive than the signal information in the current block, and the signal in the current block is of a type that can safely be modified, allowing the train to operate as if the signal information for the current block were less restrictive than the actual, previously received signal information for the current block.
Abstract:
A vehicle control system issues control signals to vehicles to control their movements along a route between a first location and a second location, the vehicles comprising a set of vehicles of a first type, to which the system can issue control signals at more than one location within the route, and a set of vehicles of a second type to which the system cannot issue control signals at more than one location within the route. Sending devices sense vehicles entering and leaving the route and the type of these vehicles, storage devices stores a record of the number of vehicles within the route and a record of the type of vehicle that most recently entered the route, signalling devices signal to vehicles whether they may enter the route by moving beyond the first location and control devices receives information from the storage devices and transmits signals to the signalling devices. In response to the storage devices indicating that there is at least one vehicle within the route and that the vehicle that most recently entered the route was of the first type, the control devices controls the signalling devices to issue a signal of a first type indicating that only vehicles of the first type may enter the route. In response to the storage devices indicating that there are no vehicles within the route, the control devices controls the signalling devices to issue a signal of a second type indicating that vehicles of the first type or the second type may enter the route. Otherwise the control devices controls the signalling devices to issue a signal of a third type indicating that no vehicles may enter the route.