California State Rail Plan 2007-08 to 2017-18

Chapter III – Operations ProgramFigure 3GComprehensive Wireless Network ApplicationsApplication Uses BenefitsRight-of-Way(ROW)CamerasOn-TrainSecurityCamerasConductorHand-heldCamerasPlaced at grade crossings, at othercrucial infrastructure points, or inkey spots along the ROW andviewed in the train engineer’s cab.The real-time video image providesa ‘look ahead’ for the engineerwithin sufficient braking distanceto avoid damage to life andproperty. Remote viewing at anoperations center can track andrecord illegal dumping andtrespassing, unauthorized entry orany unauthorized placement ofobjects/devices in the ROW.Remote viewing of the ROW canbe enhanced by video analyticswhich analyzes image for incidentabnormalities and then alerts adecision maker to view the affectedcamera.Cameras placed in passenger cars,and on the front of locomotives canprovide remote viewing capabilityat an operations or an emergencyresponse (police/fire) unit, and itmay be activated via video and/oraudio analytics. The images canalso be saved for later access.Conductor activated, mobilecamera powered via Wi-Fiequipped device to allow remoteviewing of incidents, passengeractions, and remote mechanicalviewing and repair management.They are a tool for conductors touse in situations where conductorsdetermine that remote direction andguidance would help them respondto incidents.• Reduces loss of life and injury,property damage to railequipment, track infrastructure.• Reduces cascading and multihourdelays to passenger andfreight trains and costs to“rescue” passengers strandedwhile incident damage isevaluated and restored.• Reduces liability/legal costs fromreduced number of incidents.• Keeps more trains in service tofulfill the service plan.• Video analysis allows for actionand response after unauthorizedentry or placement of devices.• Reduces train repairs for strikeincidents that often exceeds$100,000 per incident.• Real-time decision and analysistool for train crew, emergencypersonnel, and operationspersonnel to respond moreeffectively to incidents.• Legal record of incident leads toimproved prosecution, orreduction/elimination of claims.• Allows for more rapid repair anddiagnostics from mechanicaldelays which improves on-timeperformance.• Likely to reduce extreme delaywaiting for mechanical staff toarrive at train.• Provides a record of conductor’sactions when activated for anincident.55