Transformation of Vehicle 2 Everything (V2X) Communication to the Railway Sector

Abstract

Currently, there are few technical tools or even newer communication technology that allows us to communicate between rail vehicles and road-bound vehicles. This communication is very important as the automation of vehicles is advancing here as well. We will now show how vehicle-to-everything communication can also be used for the railroad sector. This so-called Rail2X is realized by communication between road users and level crossings using modified vehicle-to-infrastructure communication (V2X). We will now show how Vehicle to Everything communication can also be used for the railroad sector. Applications in a previous research project have shown that use of V2X communication can make level crossings, as well as stopping a train at a request stop, more convenient and efficient for everyone. Equipping level crossings with a digital St. Andrew’s Cross can increase the comfort of road users, as for the first time directly transmitted real-time in-formation about the status of level crossings are available. In this application the level crossing broadcasts position of a train and opening status of a level crossing via V2X. Out of this information the road user receives information, like the remaining time the level crossing is still closed. Accidents at level crossings are mainly caused by road users. The number of accidents has remained constant in recent years and has not yet been reduced. Therefore, there is a need of action to sustainably increase traffic safety at level crossings and reduce the number of accidents there. The use of the digital St. Andrew’s Cross creates opportunities for optimizing traffic flow near railroad crossings by significantly improving the information for road users in the vicinity.