Patent ID: 7036774

Claim:
A system for controlling a train, the system comprising: a control unit; a warning device in communication with the control unit; a brake interface unit, the brake interface unit being in communication with the control unit and a train brake, the brake interface unit being operable to activate the train brake under control of the control unit; and a transceiver, the transceiver being located on the train and being in communication with the control unit; wherein the control unit is configured to perform the steps of transmitting an interrogation message to a track circuit transceiver associated with a track circuit; listening for a response from the track circuit transceiver, the response including an indication as to a condition of a section of track monitored by the track circuit; activating the warning device to provide a warning to the operator if the response indicates that it is not safe for the train to proceed; and activating the train's brake via the brake interface unit if an operator of the train fails to acknowledge the warning or fails to reduce the speed of the train to a safe speed within a period of time after the warning.