North East Corridor Solutions

Overview

The North East Corridor (NEC) is the busiest passenger rail line in the United States in terms of ridership and service frequency. The route serves a densely urbanized string of cities from Washington D.C. to Boston, MA. It also shares its track with several freight railroads, further complicating the corridor.

The signaling system already in place in the NEC requires a customized PTC solution. As a part of the VitalNet™ family of products, Ansaldo STS USA has developed NEC-specific products to implement PTC along the corridor.

Products

MicroLok® II VitalNet™ CPU

Preserve your interlocking investment on the NEC. Upgrade your existing MicroLok® II system with a MicroLok® II VitalNet™ CPU (VitalNet CPU).

The VitalNet CPU provides a PTC ready interface for existing or new MicroLok II interlockings. Simply exchange your current CPU board with a VitalNet CPU board without affecting the MicroLok II logic. In most installations, only the PTC functionality must be tested. This eliminates the time and effort associated with a complete retest of the application logic.

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VitalNet™ Onboard Computer for the NEC

Ansaldo STS USA is developing an ACSES-compatible VitalNet™ Onboard Computer (VitalNet Cab) solution to provide PTC functionality on the North East Corridor.  The VitalNet Cab for the NEC is designed to enforce civil speeds and temporary speed restrictions, and provide positive stop at absolute stop locations.  The solution can be implemented in two ways, depending on the existing installed cab signaling systems.  It can be installed as a minor upgrade to provide ACSES functionality, or it can be installed as an add-on module.

 

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For the North East Corridor, ASTS USA provides transponders to enforce the civil speed restrictions you need for your PTC cab system.

The transponder sends a fixed message to the onboard signaling equipment located on a train using an ACSES-compatible, 27MHz triggering signal.  It provides information to enforce civil and signal speed restrictions, distance to next transponder, grade and positive train stop profiles. The transponder is extremely durable and can easily be mounted to existing wood or concrete ties.