Reliable data transfer for locomotive consist communications

A system for controlling data communication within a locomotive consist, comprising:

• one or more memories storing instructions;
• and
• one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to:
• receive a first set of data packets that represent a communication sent from a second access point via a first plurality of wires;
• receive a second set of data packets that represent the same communication sent from the second access point via a second plurality of wires;
• process the first set of data packets and the second set of data packets to create a resultant set of data packets;
• and
• generate, at the first access point, a communication related to operating the locomotive based on the resultant set of data packets.

A locomotive consist comprising:

• a plurality of locomotives;
• a communications network;
• a plurality of access points disposed within locomotives of the locomotive consist and communicatively coupled to the communications network, the plurality of access points including a first access point that is selected to receive a first set of data packets that represent a communication sent from a second access point via a first plurality of wires and receive a second set of data packets that represent the same communication sent from the second access point via a second plurality of wires;
• and
• a processor configured to process the first set of data packets and the second set of data packets to create a resultant set of data packets and generate, at the first access point, a communication related to operating the locomotive based on the resultant set of data packets.