Rail transportation system

Abstract

A rail system includes a main track, a spur track connected to the main track by a switch changeable between a closed state and an open state, and a station spaced from the main track and accessible by the spur track. The rail system further includes a train with a passenger car and an EMDI releasably coupleable behind the passenger car. A method of operating the rail system includes decoupling the EMDI from the passenger car when the train is moving at a first speed toward the switch in the closed state. The EMDI is decelerated to a second speed less than the first speed. After the train has moved past the switch and the switch has been changed to the open state, the EMDI is diverted from the main track to the spur track via the switch in the open state and decelerated to a stop at the station.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a rail system, the rail system having:
 a main track, the main track having a coupling section,   a spur track connected to the main track by a first switch and a second switch disposed on opposite sides of a station, the station spaced from the main track and accessible by the spur track, the first switch proximate to the coupling section of the main track, the first switch changeable between a closed state in which a vehicle traveling on the spur track cannot access the main track and an open state in which a vehicle traveling on the spur track can access the main track,   a train with a locomotive and at least one passenger car coupled, directly or indirectly, behind the locomotive, and   an embarkation/disembarkation (EMDI) vehicle releasably coupleable, directly or indirectly, behind the passenger car,   in a first state of the rail system the first switch being in the closed state, the train moving along the main track in a direction of travel in which the first switch is past the station, at a first speed, the EMDI vehicle being disposed on the spur track adjacent to the station, and a passenger is located in the station,   
       the method comprising:
 embarking the passenger from the station onto the EMDI vehicle; 
 accelerating the EMDI vehicle on the spur track toward the first switch; 
 after the train has moved past the first switch, the first switch then being changed from its closed state to its open state, exiting the EMDI vehicle from the spur track onto the main track via the first switch, behind the train; 
 while traveling along the coupling section of the main track:
 accelerating the EMDI vehicle to a second speed, higher than the first speed; 
 reducing a distance between the EMDI vehicle and the train until the EMDI vehicle reaches the passenger car; and 
 coupling the EMDI vehicle to the passenger car. 
 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 discharging the passenger from the EMDI vehicle into the passenger car via a passenger passage coupled to the EMDI vehicle.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the main track includes rail having a first class and the coupling section of the main track includes rail having a second class higher than the first class. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling section of the main track is configured to limit non-axial motion of the EMDI vehicle and the passenger car relative to a direction of travel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling the EMDI vehicle to the passenger car includes coupling via a coupler, the EMDI vehicle including an engagement mechanism configured to temporarily engage a receiving mechanism at a rear end of the passenger car. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a portion of the engagement mechanism is configured to be advanced from a front end of the EMDI vehicle toward the receiving mechanism of the passenger car prior to coupling the EMDI vehicle to the passenger car via the coupler. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a rail system, the rail system having:
 a main track,   a spur track connected to the main track by a first switch and a second switch disposed on opposite sides of a station, the station spaced from the main track and accessible by the spur track, the first switch changeable between a closed state in which a vehicle traveling on the spur track cannot access the main track and an open state in which a vehicle traveling on the spur track can access the main track,   a train with a locomotive and at least one passenger car coupled, directly or indirectly, behind the locomotive, and   an embarkation/disembarkation (EMDI) vehicle releasably coupleable, directly or indirectly, behind the passenger car,   in a first state of the rail system the first switch being in the closed state, the train moving along the main track in a direction of travel in which the first switch is past the station, at a first speed, the EMDI vehicle being disposed on the spur track adjacent to the station, and a passenger is located in the station,   
       the method comprising:
 embarking the passenger from the station onto the EMDI vehicle; 
 accelerating the EMDI vehicle on the spur track toward the first switch; 
 after the train has moved past the first switch, the first switch then being changed from its closed state to its open state, exiting the EMDI vehicle from the spur track onto the main track via the first switch, behind the train; 
 accelerating the EMDI vehicle to a second speed, higher than the first speed; 
 reducing a distance between the EMDI vehicle and the train until the EMDI vehicle reaches the passenger car; 
 advancing a portion of an engagement mechanism of the EMDI vehicle toward a receiving mechanism of the passenger car; 
 limiting non-axial motion of the EMDI vehicle and the passenger car relative to a direction of travel in response to the engagement mechanism of the EMDI vehicle engaging the receiving mechanism of the passenger car; 
 coupling the EMDI vehicle to the passenger car via a coupler; and 
 disengaging the engagement mechanism of the EMDI vehicle from the receiving mechanism of the passenger car after the coupling. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 discharging the passenger from the EMDI vehicle into the passenger car via a passenger passage coupled to the EMDI vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the main track includes a coupling section proximate the first switch, the EMDI vehicle traveling along the coupling section of the main track from at least a portion of the accelerating the EMDI vehicle to the second speed to the coupling the EMDI vehicle to the passenger car. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the main track includes rail having a first class and the coupling section of the main track includes rail having a second class higher than the first class. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the coupling section of the main track is configured to limit non-axial motion of the EMDI vehicle and the passenger car relative to the direction of travel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving data from at least one sensor during the reducing the distance between the EMDI vehicle and the passenger car.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor is a laser distance measuring sensor. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a stiffener movably coupled to a front-end portion of an embarkation/disembarkation (EMDI) vehicle, the EMDI vehicle releasably coupleable, directly or indirectly, behind a passenger car of a train;   an actuator coupled to the EMDI vehicle, the actuator configured to transition the stiffener between a first configuration and a second configuration when actuated; and   a receiver coupled to a rear end portion of the passenger car, the receiver configured to receive a portion of the stiffener when the stiffener is in the second configuration to limit non-axial motion of the EMDI vehicle and the passenger car relative to a direction of travel of the train.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the stiffener is in a retracted position relative to the front-end portion of the EMDI vehicle when in the first configuration and is in an extended position relative to the front-end portion of the EMDI vehicle when in the second configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the receiver is configured to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to receiving the portion of the stiffener, the receiver in the second configuration configured to retain the portion of the stiffener within the receiver. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the receiver includes electromagnets, the receiver transitioning from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to the electromagnets being energized. 
     
     
         18 . A system for coupling the EMDI vehicle to the passenger car of the train during locomotion, the system comprising:
 the apparatus of  claim 14 ;   a sensor configured to sense an alignment of the EMDI vehicle relative to the passenger car;   a mechanical coupler having a first portion coupled to the EMDI vehicle and a second portion coupled to the passenger car; and   a power coupler having a first portion coupled to the EMDI vehicle and a second portion coupled to the passenger car,   wherein the limiting of the non-axial motion when the portion of the stiffener in the second configuration is received in the receiver allowing each of the first portion and the second portion of the mechanical coupler and the first portion and the second portion of the power coupler to couple the EMDI vehicle to the passenger car during the locomotion.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the stiffener is configured to transition from the second configuration to the first configuration in response to the mechanical coupler and the power coupler coupling the EMDI vehicle to the passenger car. 
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a rail system, the rail system having:
 a main track,   a spur track connected to the main track at two separated locations by a first switch and a second switch,   a station spaced from the main track, accessible by the spur track, and disposed between the first switch and the second switch,   a train with an electrically powered locomotive and a passenger car coupled, directly or indirectly, behind the locomotive,   a first embarkation/disembarkation (EMDI) vehicle being releasably coupleable, directly or indirectly, behind the passenger car, the first EMDI vehicle including a first energy storage, and   a second EMDI vehicle being releasably coupleable, directly or indirectly, behind the passenger car, the second EMDI vehicle including a second energy storage,   the rail system being in a first state in which the train is moving at a first speed along the main track, the first EMDI vehicle is coupled to the passenger car and is carrying a first passenger, and the second EMDI vehicle is at the station, has embarked a second passenger, and the second energy storage is substantially fully charged,   
       the method comprising:
 transferring electric power from the first energy storage of the first EMDI vehicle to the locomotive; 
 before the train reaches the first switch, decoupling the first EMDI vehicle from the passenger car; 
 diverting the first EMDI vehicle from the main track onto the spur track via the first switch; 
 opening the second switch such that the second EMDI vehicle travels from the spur track onto the main track behind the passenger car, the second EMDI vehicle traveling along the main track at a second speed greater than the first speed such that a distance between the second EMDI vehicle and the passenger car is reduced until the second EMDI vehicle reaches the passenger car; 
 coupling the second EMDI vehicle to the passenger car; and 
 transferring electric power for the second energy storage of the second EMDI vehicle to the locomotive. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein each of the first energy storage and the second energy storage is at least one rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the second energy storage and while the second EMDI vehicle is at the station, energy from an energy source accessible via the station.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 allowing the first passenger to disembark the first EMDI vehicle while the first EMDI vehicle is stopped at the station; and   receiving, at the first energy storage and while the first EMDI vehicle is at the station, energy from an energy source accessible via the station.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the energy source includes a solar panel array, at least a portion of the solar panel array being disposed along at least a portion of the main track. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the portion of the solar panel array disposed along at least the portion of the main track is a first portion of the solar panel array, a second portion of the solar panel array being disposed at the station. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the portion of the solar panel array disposed along at least the portion of the main track is a first portion of the solar panel array, a second portion of the solar panel array being coupled to the first EMDI vehicle, and a third portion of the solar panel array being coupled to the second EMDI vehicle. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the transferring electric power from the first energy storage includes transferring electric power until an energy level of the first energy storage falls below a threshold energy level. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 decelerating the first EMDI vehicle to a stop at the station.