Train-Centric Communication-Based Close Proximity Driving Train Movement Authority System

The scenario that two trains occupy the same block sometimes happens in actual operations. For example, cases like train formation, fast shunting, relief wrecking, and so on. In the fixed-block based railways, the close proximity driving in the same one block section is monitored by train drivers. Similarly, in the moving-block based railways when Automatic Train Protection (ATP) out of service, the drivers have to take more responsibility and workload to ensure the train operation safety. In these specific scenarios accidents caused by human errors have more possibility to happen. To increase the safety demanding needs of railway transport in a close distance, this paper proposes a close proximity driving train movement authority system (MA+). This system permits implementing train to train distance measurement and movement authority generation for trains that located at a close distance. Apart from a wireless communication unit, the system does not require any other infrastructure. With the assistance of train-centric communication technology, the MA+ can detect the train to train distance interval within a certain scope. The principle and structure of the system are proposed. Stochastic Petri nets are applied to evaluate the system availability.