Knowing the exact location of our commuter trains has been a great benefit to our riders. Each of our commuter trains is fitted with a GPS receiver and a communications system that relays our position to our Internet site on a real time basis. From there it is available to any interested party who wants to know where the train is and when to expect it.
James W. Latchford, Road Trainmaster, AMTRAK/Virginia Railway Express
Rail systems throughout the world use GPS to track the movement of locomotives, rail cars, maintenance vehicles, and wayside equipment in real time. When combined with other sensors, computers, and communications systems, GPS improves rail safety, security, and operational effectiveness. The technology helps reduce accidents, delays, and operating costs, while increasing track capacity, customer satisfaction, and cost effectiveness.
GPS is used to synchronize the timing of railroad communication systems, including data transmissions for Positive Train Control, voice contact between locomotive engineers and dispatchers, and intermodal communications among trains, rail stations, ports, and airports.
Looking to the future, researchers are exploring ways to integrate GPS into vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems that could warn trains and cars of potential collisions at railroad crossings.
Benefits
- Increased situational awareness for improved safety of trains and maintenance crews.
- Prevention of collisions, derailments, work zone incursions, and rail switch errors.
- Increased capacity and efficiency for all rail users. Automated track surveys and inspections.
- Time synchronization for communication systems.
