Short headway communications based train control system

A train control system, comprising:

• a central dispatch control unit having communication device and configured to transmit an authority signal;
• a communication device associated with at least one control unit of a first train;
• and
• a communication device associated with at least one control unit of a second train;
• wherein at least one of the control units of the first train and the second train is configured to:
• (i) receive, at the associated communication device, the authority signal including data configured to identify one of the first train and the second train as a lead train and the other of the first train and the second train as a follower train;
• (ii) establish at least one peer-to-peer communication link between the communication devices of the lead train and the follower train;
• and
• (iii) exchange train data between the lead train and the follower train via the at least one peer-to-peer communication link.

An on-board control unit for a train, comprising:

• a communication device configured to send and receive signals;
• and
• at least one computer having a computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:
• (i) receive, at the communication device, an authority signal including data configured to identify one of a first train and a second train as a lead train and the other of the first train and the second train as a follower train;
• (ii) establish at least one peer-to-peer communication link between the communication device of the train with a communication device of another train;
• and
• (iii) exchange train data between the train and the other train via the at least one peer-to-peer communication link.