Rail communication system and method for communicating with a rail vehicle

A method for communicating with a rail vehicle, the method comprising:

• coupling a communication management device with a conductive pathway that extends alongside a track;
• and
• coupling an on-board communication device disposed on the rail vehicle that travels along the track with the conductive pathway, the on-board communication device coupled with a propulsion subsystem of the rail vehicle;
• wherein the communication management device and the on-board communication device communicate a data signal through the conductive pathway that remotely controls operation of the rail vehicle by transmitting instructions to the propulsion subsystem via the data signal, and wherein the data signal comprises network data.

A method for communicating with a rail vehicle, the method comprising:

• transmitting a data signal from at least one of an on-board communication device disposed on the rail vehicle that travels along a track or a communication management device, wherein the data signal is transmitted over a conductive pathway that extends along the track and that includes plural channels used to transmit the data signal, and wherein the data signal comprises network data;
• receiving the data signal at the other of the on-board communication device and the communication management device;
• and
• processing the data signal for one or more of management or control of movement of the rail vehicle along the track
• wherein the transmitting step includes changing which of the plural channels of the conductive pathway are used to transmit the data signal based on transmission characteristics of the channels.

A rail communication system comprising:

• a management device capable of being communicatively coupled with a conductive pathway that extends along a rail that a plurality of rail vehicles travel along;
• and
• a communication device capable of being coupled with the rail and at least one of a wayside equipment assembly or a rail vehicle, the management device and the communication device are configured to communicate a data signal between each other and through the conductive pathway to at least one of change a status of the wayside equipment assembly, control an operation of the rail vehicle, or communicate trip related information with the rail vehicle, wherein the data signal comprises network data
• wherein the communication device is capable of being disposed on the rail vehicle and coupled with a propulsion subsystem of the rail vehicle, the management device configured to remotely control the operation of the rail vehicle by transmitting instructions to the propulsion subsystem via the data signal.