What are Intelligent Transportation Systems at Highway-Rail Intersections?
Over the past 10 years, ITS technologies have increasingly been applied to Highway-Rail Intersections (HRI) in an effort to improve their safety, efficiency, productivity, control, and communication. Such technologies include digital data communications, transponders installed in the wayside or embedded in the railroad tracks, train location system, onboard computers, and date radio. Deaths at highway-rail grade crossings rank #1 among rail-related fatalities, making the implementation of advanced accident-prevention technologies essential. Rationale for using ITS at HRI Accidents at highway-rail intersections are a serious problem in the US. In October 1995 a school bus transporting 35 school students stopped at a grade crossing in Fox River Grove, Illinois and was struck by a commuter train. Seven students were killed. Accidents like this are a recurring problem at highway-rail intersections. The following chart shows the number of fatalities, injuries, and accidents that have occurr
