A COMMUNICATION LINK APPROACH TO ACTUATION OF GRADE-CROSSING MOTORIST-WARNING SYSTEMS

Previous studies indicate that one promising avenue to grade-crossing motorist-warning systems, offering lower cost and independent of railroad-track circuits, is use of a radio-communication link for signal activation. By this means, the presence of a train approaching a crossing can be communicated to the crossing from an appropriate distance. This study describes analysis, development, and test activities carried out at the Transportation Systems Center to determine the basic feasibility and practicality of a microwave realization of this approach. A brief review of the conceptual framework is followed by detailed discussion of field-test procedures and results, with special attention then given to train detectors, microwave-propagation aspects, use of solar power, and radar train detection.

• Record URL:
  • https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/communication-link-approach-actuation-grade-crossing-motorist-warning-systems
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Systems Center

  55 Broadway, Kendall Square
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142
• Authors:
  • Hopkins, J B
  • Abbott, R
  • Holmstrom, F Ross
  • White, E F
  • Newfell, A T
• Publication Date: 1975-7

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 118 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Grade crossing protection systems; Microwave communication systems; Radar; Radio control; Safety; Track circuits; Warning systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Grade crossing protection; Microwave communication
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00126975
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Railroad Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FRA-OR&D-75-80 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 5 1976 12:00AM