System and method for controlling a vehicle

A method of controlling a vehicle system, comprising the steps of:

• at a third rail vehicle of a rail vehicle consist, receiving information of a failure condition in a first rail vehicle of the rail vehicle consist, the failure condition causing the first rail vehicle to be unable to control airbrake pressure of an airbrake system of the rail vehicle consist, wherein the information is received over a communication channel of a distributed power system of the rail vehicle consist;
• and in response to the failure condition, controlling a second rail vehicle of the rail vehicle consist from a first operational mode to a different, second operational mode, wherein in the second operational mode, the second rail vehicle controls the airbrake pressure that the first rail vehicle cannot due to the failure condition, wherein the second rail vehicle is controlled over the distributed power system;
• wherein the first operational mode is a trail remote mode;
• and wherein the second operational mode is a lead remote mode.

A system comprising:

• a control module deployed on a third rail vehicle of a rail vehicle consist, the control module being configured to receive information about a failure condition of a component of a system deployed on a first rail vehicle of the consist and to generate control signals for controlling a second rail vehicle of the consist from a first operational mode to a second, different operational mode in response to the failure condition, wherein in the second operational mode, the second rail vehicle performs a function that the first rail vehicle cannot due to the failure condition;
• wherein the first operational mode is a trail remote mode;
• wherein the second operational mode is a lead remote mode;
• wherein the control unit is further configured to isolate a component of the rail vehicle that caused the failure condition and to control the consist to move to a safe location for inspection;
• and wherein the control module is further configured for interfacing with a distributed power system of the rail vehicle consist.