One can try to avoid head-on train collisions via an independent location-based app system for train drivers which monitors users location, speed and travel direction via GPS and sends this data to a central information processing unit which monitors all user (=train) movements on high risk tracks and looks out for “same track / opposed direction”-movements and alerts train drivers when a collision is possible or probable.

1. PROPOSAL
FOR AN INDEPENDENT
GPS-BASED
COLLISION-AVOIDANCE
SYSTEM
FORTRAINS
Andreas Brepohl
Founder & MD
ZEITGEIST construction GmbH
02/2016
Version 0.2

2. KIND OFTRACK
AND
RISK OF HEAD-ON-COLLISION
single trackdouble track
(high velocity)
Vhigh
(low velocity)
Vlow
Vhigh single track
focus first on
high risk tracks
LOW
RISK
HIGH
RISK
MEDIUM
RISK
MEDIUM
RISK

3. HOW IT WORKS

4. ASSUMPTIONS
• every phone today can measure location, speed and
direction of travel via GPS (think e.g. Uber, MyTaxi etc.)
• railway track system is spatially fixed and GPS-
coordinates are known (DB internal? Google Maps?)
• every train driver can have a phone with GPS and data
connection nearby when driving

5. THE IDEA
One can try to avoid head-on train collisions on high-
risk routes via an independent location-based app
system for train drivers which monitors users location,
speed and travel direction via GPS and sends this data
to a central information processing unit which
monitors all user (=train) movements on high risk
tracks and looks out for “single track + opposed
direction”-movements and alerts train drivers when a
collision is possible or probable.

6. HOW IT WORKS
A B
high velocity single track connection
= high risk connection
Railway system is known and fixed spatially.

7. HOW IT WORKS
A B
high velocity single track connection
1) train enters route between A and B
2) train drivers app sends constantly
spatial data (location, speed etc.) to
central unit which marks this route as
“occupied”

8. HOW IT WORKS
A B
high velocity single track connection
3) second train enters route between A and B
4) second train drivers app sends signal
(location, speed etc.) to central unit

9. HOW IT WORKS
A B
high velocity single track connection
5) central unit detects second train on already “occupied”
route and calculates time and place etc. of possible collision
6) central unit sends out warning signal to both train driver phone
apps

10. HOW IT WORKS
A B
high velocity single track connection
7) train drivers apps warn train drivers of potential collision
due to same use of single track in opposite direction
8) train drivers recognize warning, stop trains, collision avoided

11. STOP
IMMEDIATELY!
TRAIN DETECTED
COLLISION
HIGHLY
PROBABLE
OKAY
NO OTHER
TRAIN DETECTED
COLLISION
NOT
PROBABLE
CHECK
FOR TRAIN
TRAIN DETECTED
COLLISION
POSSIBLE
7) train drivers apps warn train drivers of potential collision
due to same use of single track in opposite direction

12. PRETTY SIMPLE,
BUT SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE.
ALLTHE BEST,
ANDREAS