Early warning system for shove track protection

Abstract

System and methods are disclosed to promote safe shoving movements of a train based on train position localization without human-based track operations monitoring. Train position detectors deployed at the end of a track, in parallel to the track, between the rails of the track, or a combination thereof, localize an end-of-train during shoving movements. Each train position detector transmits an early warning alert to an onboard alert device and a handheld alert device for indicating the end of the train is about to enter a pre-configured prohibited zone. The locomotive operator receives the alert on the onboard alert device while workers in the railyard receive the alert on the handheld alert devices. Both onboard and handheld alert devices are capable of generating audio, visual, haptic, or a combination of these warning alerts for the locomotive operator and the workers in the railyard.