Patent ID: 8478463

Claim:
A train control system for controlling at least one train travelling in a track network comprising at least one track having at least one signal associated with a portion of the at least one track, the system comprising: an onboard track database comprising at least one of the following: train data, track network data, track data, signal data; a positioning system configured to determine position data directed to a position of the at least one train within the track network; and an onboard control system configured to: (i) receive position data from the positioning system and signal data from the track database; and (ii) based upon at least one of the following: train data, track network data, track data, position data, signal data, train control data, authorization data signal aspect data, or any combination thereof, predictively enforce the next, upcoming signal by automatically braking the at least one train prior to encountering the next, upcoming signal, unless: (a) based at least partially on current signal aspect data, a determination is made that it is safe to proceed towards the next, upcoming signal; (b) specified authorization data is received; or (c) specified train control data is received.