Communication system, apparatus and method

A method, comprising:

• feeding a modulated voltage from a transmitter to a track to generate a data packet, the data packet representing at least one of a voltage and a current;
• receiving the data packet at a receiver that is electrically connected to the track;
• applying the data packet to an adaptive channel equalizer in the receiver to reduce distortion in the data packet introduced by the track;
• recording an amount of voltage or current represented by the data packet after application to the channel equalizer;
• and
• detecting a presence of one or both of a vehicle in contact with a section of the track, and a break within the section of railroad track using the amount of voltage or current.

A track circuit apparatus comprising:

• a track including a first rail and a second rail;
• a track circuit transmitter electrically connected to the track and configured to generate a signal transmitted into the track;
• and
• a track circuit receiver electrically connected to the track and separated from the track circuit transmitter and comprising an adaptive channel equalizer, the track circuit receiver configured to:
• detect the signal;
• apply the detected signal to the adaptive channel equalizer;
• and
• determine a presence of one of a vehicle within a section of the track, and a break within the section of track based on one of a voltage or current level and a received signal level in the equalized signal.