Hitachi Rail is launching new innovations and product improvements for freight and passenger rail to help railroads maximize their investment for the long term.
Hitachi Rail is launching several new innovations in the areas of automation and digitalization, which include PTC Onboard (Positive Train Control), Railcar Telematics and dispatching systems. As part of its vision for an intelligent wayside, Hitachi continues to invest in integrating digital capabilities within its core signaling products. The added capability allows customers to improve operational performance and maintenance activities through deploying technological innovation.
The PTC Onboard System is an Interoperable Train Control (ITC) solution for freight railroads and commuter rail operators. The technology platform utilizes a multiprocessor architecture to run both vital (SIL-4) and non-vital applications, and it leverages the decades of onboard train control experience from prior Hitachi Rail platforms.
The Railcar Telematics product suite provides GPS tracking and operational status of railcars. An exclusive partnership with Intermodal Telematics establishes Hitachi Rail’s full suite of railcar telematics products, which complements its existing product portfolio from the acquisition of Perpetuum in 2021.
Hitachi Rail has made enhancements to several of its core signaling products to integrate digital capabilities in its vision to move towards an Intelligent Wayside.
- In M3/M23 switch machines, the Intelligent Electronic Circuit Controller (IECC®) has been updated with improvements for remote monitoring and diagnostics.
- Hitachi Rail’s switch machines have been upgraded to enhance maintenance activities – by making it faster and simpler to perform tests and inspections.
- The improved Model 95-E gate crossing mechanism features a new electronic control module and dustless motor technology that reduces maintenance costs.
- For the MicroLok II platform, new EasyRail® Design and Simulation tools have been launched to simplify the building and testing of vital and non-vital applications.
- EasyRail® Maintainer is a remote monitoring and diagnostics application for the MicroLok II platform, which provides advanced analytics over wayside data.
- The MicroLok II platform also includes the ViPro® vital processor for vital and non-vital wayside signaling and PTC applications – which combines core train control capabilities with next generation communications, monitoring and analytics.
Joseph Pozza, president of Hitachi Rail, North America, said, “We are proud of our core products for communication and signaling that are installed across North America. We continue to invest in new digital technologies to provide our customers with modern capabilities to better operate and maintain their rail network. Through these lasting partnerships we will continue to innovate and provide more efficient and safer railways.”
