advanced crossing signals: low-cost warning system at grade crossing

ADVANCED CROSSING SIGNALS: LOW-COST WARNING SYSTEM AT GRADE CROSSING

Presented to Transport Canada

byGlen T. Fisher, President

CPCS Technologies Corporationand

Pierre Mérette , PresidentTranstronic Inc.

Mike Nixon, Director, EngineeringTranstronic Inc.

January 19, 2007

ADVANCED CROSSING SIGNALSCPCS Technologies Corporation and Transtronic Inc.

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Advanced Crossing Signals

INTRODUCTION: Pierre Mérette

1. SAFETY: Glen Fisher

2. TECHNICAL: Mike Nixon

3. ERGONOMIC: Glen Fisher

4. COST EFFECTIVENESS: Glen Fisher

5. ENVIRONMENT: Mike Nixon

6. SUMMARY: Pierre Mérette

CPCS Technologies Corporation

and Transtronic Inc.


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INTRODUCTION

ADVANCED CROSSING SIGNALS: Simple, efficient, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective• Alerts motorists and locomotive crew of activity on railway

track• Less than $50,000 per crossing• Rapid installation• Solar-powered• Reliable, fully redundant• Requires NO additional equipment on existing systems or

locomotives• Maintenance by module replacement


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1 SAFETY

1.1 MEANS: How Advanced Signals system works• Reduces or prevents attempts to drive through

level crossings with predictably reliable indication of oncoming train(s)

• Detects presence of train(s) and alerts motorists• Detects presence of vehicles on the track and

alerts locomotive crew that warning is operating• Helps motorists to perceive warning signals by use

of commonly recognized symbols


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1 SAFETY 1.2 OPERATING RANGE

1.2 OPERATING RANGE:• Advanced Crossing Signals area of effectiveness:

Road: 1,000 meters from crossing Safety is increased with use of advance warning flashing yellow light 1500

meters from crossing Track: 1 to 2 miles (1600 to 3200 meters)

• Proportion of areas covered by Advanced Crossing Signals: 100% of approach railway track 100% of approach road (lanes within sight) distance up to 1000 meters

• Moment of Activation: Approaching train is detected 500 meters (0.3miles) from sensing module

(1 minute 30 seconds before crossing at 90 mph)


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2 TECHNICAL

2.1 Advanced Crossing Signals system complies with all applicable standards,

regulations and policies.


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2 TECHNICAL 2.2 Performance of Advanced Crossing Signals

Two self-contained module types: sensor head and signal head, two of each per installation

Sensors detect presence, location, speed and direction of trains

Comprised of two redundant, identical blocks, each with a control computer, a Doppler radar system and a Light Detection and Ranging Detector (LIDAR)

LIDAR and RADAR sensing data is compared and processed by the computer to ignore occasional spurious radar reflections

Can distinguish between railway trains and parallel road traffic

Computer gives priority to RADAR data during fog or extremely heavy snow


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2 Technical2.3 Reliability of System

Advanced Crossing Signals system is designed to be reliable under all conditions, due to redundant RADAR and LIDAR.


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2 TECHNICAL 2.4 Flexibility of System

• Available with single track; double and multiple tracks optional

• Easy and quick installation• Easy maintenance by module replacement• Optional additional features provide added safety, including

greater signal visibility, possible barriers at crossings and median barrier

• Detects train approach to a blocked crossing and optionally transmits emergency brake application signal to end of train device (EOT) bringing the train to a stop before the crossing (patented feature)


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3. ERGONOMIC 3.1 Impact on Motorist and Locomotive Crew

Reliability is an extremely important aspect of grade crossing warning systems for life-saving safety as motorists learn to disregard warning signals that are unreliable, even if they are “fail-safe”*• Timely warning to motorists regardless of train approach speed.• Locomotive crew notified when their train is detected and crossing protection system is functioning.• System failure is notified to locomotive crew by voice radio and to motorists by flashing yellow lights.

*(see Glen T. Fisher, Observation of Driver Awareness at a Railway Level Crossing and Comparison with Awareness on False Warning Signal presented to the Canadian Transportation Research Forum Annual Convention May 28, 1982)


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3. ERGONOMIC3.2 Quality of Interface

System/Motorists:• Familiar bright “wig-wag” flashing High Intensity

LED light, optional electronic bell and simulated locomotive whistle directed at road only

System/Locomotive Crew:• Voice confirmation via train radio channel of

detection, speed and system functioning• Video imaging of the crossing displayed in the

locomotive cab is available as a low-cost option


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4. COST EFFECTIVENESS

Possible installations (public and private crossings) greater than 18,000

4.1 Device Overall Cost: $15,000 - $50,000 each(compare with conventional active systems at $200,000 to $800,000 each)

4.2 Maintenance Cost: $2,000 annually, based on one module replacement per year

4.3 Service Life: Equipment – no limit with occasional module replacement

Technology @ 20 years

4.4 Stage of Development: Completed: Concept design, preliminary component sourcing, U.S. patent

granted on train stop device. Next Steps: Detailed design, prototype, lab and field testing, final

production design


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5. ENVIRNMENT 5.2 Visual Impact

Warning lights: High Intensity pulsed LED panels will be used. The impact of these is very effective.

Equipment Appearance: Components will be housed in a small cast box painted a visible yellow or orange. The sensors and signal heads will be mounted on steel poles approximately 14 feet (3.2 meters) above the road or track surface depending on local conditions.


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5. ENVIRONMENT 5.1 Noise Emission

There is no noise from this system as the emphasis is on visibility for all drivers including hearing impaired. Optionally, an electronic crossing bell sound or simulated locomotive whistle can be provided (recommended for pedestrian, bicycle crossing areas).

In populated areas, it is possible to replace the omni-directional sounds with an ultrasonic carrier-directional sound system which directs audible sound to only the area of the car and pedestrian pathway without disturbing nearby residents with the warning sound.


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6. SUMMARY : ADVANCED CROSSING SIGNALS

Alert motorists and locomotive crew of train approach and system functioning

Senses presence, location, speed and direction of approaching train

Effective to 1,000 meters on road on either side of track Approach flashing yellow warning light on road at 500 meters

from the crossing (also available as add-on to existing systems) Effective 2 miles along track from crossing Approaching train is detected 500 meters (0.3 miles) from

sensing module Complies with all applicable standards, regulations and policies Reliable, fully redundant, flexible to meet many situations and

new standards Excellent interface quality with motorists and locomotive crew


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6. SUMMARY: ADVANCED CROSSING SIGNALS

No noise emission unless optional bell/horn simulation is requested Maximum visibility of signal lights Attractive appearance of installation Provides speed-proportional signalling for constant warning time Solar-powered/radio communication (no field wiring/power connection

required) Full diagnostics with train and RTC (dispatcher) notification Optional crossing obstruction scanning/optional train stop enforcement

approaching obstructed crossing Optional digital video recording to capture motorist violation ID Optional video crossing display in locomotive cab Quick support implantation system – less than 30 minutes per station

module Each head easily identifiable via differential GPS programming of exact

location


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CPCS Technologies Corporation Transtronic Inc.

• Consulting Engineers and Planners

• Specialists in Rail Transportation

• 32 years experience in Canada, USA and 70 countries

• Glen Fisher, President, Electrical Engineer with broad experience in electronics, telecommunications, railway line capacity, railway signals and electrification.

• Holder of patents in Canada and USA.

•Supplier of electronic power inverters for railway transportation industry.

•Products include static converters and battery chargers used to supply electricity onboard locomotives and passenger cars.

•Developed and produced electronic devices including voltage, currency and frequency monitors, timers, alarms and bells

•Pierre Merette, Founding President with experience in Operations Planning and Control Systems Design, Simulation Systems Development, Quality Systems

advanced crossing signals: low-cost warning system at grade crossing

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