Patent ID: 7983806
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: B61L

Abstract:
1. A system for selecting a classification track in a railway switchyard in which to switch a train block, a plurality of classification tracks and a switch, said system comprising: a. a data processing apparatus having a CPU and a machine readable storage encoded with software for execution by the CPU, the data processing apparatus: i. determining in several ones of the classification tracks space available for receiving cars from a train block, wherein the train block includes a plurality of cars and at least one of the cars is enroute to the railway switchyard when the determining is performed, the determining including processing with the software first data conveying an expected time of arrival (ETA) of the at least one car, the ETA providing an estimate of the time at which the at least one car is expected at the railway switchyard, to generate second data, the second data indicating if a classification track on which the determining is performed can receive the train block; ii. selecting a classification track amongst the plurality of classification tracks at least in part on the basis of the second data; b. the data processing apparatus having an output for releasing results of the selecting.