Method and apparatus for planning linked train movements

• US 20070260368A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Philp, Joseph, Wills, Mitchell
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/16 Trackside optimisation of vehicle or train operation

Abstract

A scheduling system and method for identifying and planning for the linked movement of two or more trains.

Claims

1. A method of scheduling the planned movement of plural trains in a rail network comprising:

(a) receiving a schedule for the planned movement over the rail network for plural trains;

(b) identifying two or more of the plural trains that have linked planned movements; and

(c) optimizing the planned movement of the linked trains.

2. A method for optimizing the planned movement of plural trains over a rail network, comprising

(a) reviewing the planned movement of the plural trains;

(b) identifying two or more trains having linked planned movements;

(c) providing the linked planned movements to a computer aided scheduling system,

(d) optimizing the planned movement of the linked trains.

3. The method of claim 2 where the step of identifying includes identifying trains with the same block code.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of

(e) monitoring the movement of the linked trains against the optimized plan;

(f) identifying deviations from the optimized plan by the linked trains;

(g) modifying the optimized movement plan for the linked trains if at least one of the linked trains deviates from the optimized plan by a predetermined amount.

5. A method of controlling the movement of plural trains over a rail network comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a schedule for the planned movement of plural trains;

(b) identifying two or more trains having linked planned movements;

(c) identifying the location of the linked activity;

(d) monitoring the movement of the linked trains;

(e) modifying the characteristics of the linked trains when the trains reach the linked activity location.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the train characteristic is one of weight, length, or importance.