Operational control method for train integrity monitoring based on optical coherent reflectometry data

Abstract

The paper presents a novel method for wagon counting of moving trains. The method is based on optical coherent reflectometry data from an area of train track laying. A wagon number operational control in a train composition is widely used as one of the main methods of train integrity monitoring. In turn, train integrity is one of the main important factors in the security provision of railway traffic. The method proposed in the paper is simple, intuitive and easily realizable in practice. Its high economic efficiency is caused by the fact that the method does not require any additional equipment with exception of that already installed in the monitoring system of the train movement regulation on the base of optical coherent reflectometry. The proposed algorithm is built upon the joint application of the hidden Markov model and Viterbi-like method used for sequence of states evaluation of the hidden Markov model. The field-service tests performed at the real railroad haul have proved high practical efficiency of the approach.