Communication system and method of a vehicle consist

A method comprising:

• obtaining a first directional signal from a first directional sensor onboard a first vehicle, the first directional signal indicative of a first heading of the first vehicle;
• obtaining a second directional signal from a second directional sensor onboard a second vehicle, the second directional signal indicative of a second heading of the second vehicle;
• determining an orientation for the second vehicle based on the first and second directional signals;
• and
• establishing a wireless communication link between the first vehicle and the second vehicle using the orientation for the second vehicle that is determined.

A heading determination unit comprising:

• a communication interface;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the communication interface and having at least one processor,
• wherein the communication interface is configured to receive a first directional signal from a first directional sensor of a first vehicle, the first directional signal indicative of a first heading of the first vehicle,
• wherein the communication interface is configured to receive a second directional signal from a second directional sensor of a second vehicle, the second directional signal indicative of a second heading of the second vehicle, and
• wherein the controller is configured to determine an orientation of the second vehicle based on the first and second directional signals and to direct the communication interface to establish a wireless communication link between the first vehicle and the second vehicle using the orientation of the second vehicle that is determined.