Scheduling system and method for a transportation network

A method comprising:

• on-board a first vehicle that is scheduled to pull off of a main line route onto a siding section route at a scheduled time of a movement event to allow a second vehicle to pass the first vehicle on the main line route during the movement event, receiving an updated time of the movement event that is later than the scheduled time of the movement event when the second vehicle is traveling behind a schedule of the second vehicle such that the second vehicle will arrive at a location of the movement event later than the scheduled time of the movement event;
• and
• reducing a speed of the first vehicle such that the first vehicle travels behind a schedule of the first vehicle in response to the updated time to arrive at the movement event, the speed of the first vehicle reduced such that the first vehicle arrives at the location of the movement event later than the scheduled time of the movement event but prior to arrival of the second vehicle at the location of the movement event,
• wherein the movement event is at least one of:
• a convergence event that includes the first vehicle traveling along a first separate route section and the second vehicle traveling along a different, second separate route section with the first separate route section and the second separate route section converging into a converged route section, or
• a divergence event that includes the first vehicle and the second vehicle traveling in a common direction along a common route section, the common route section diverging into a first separate route section and a second separate route section at a divergence point.

A method comprising:

• monitoring movement of first and second vehicles relative to respective first and second schedules of the first and second vehicles, the first and second vehicles scheduled to participate in a movement event at a scheduled time, the movement event including at least one of:
• a pass event involving the first and second vehicles moving in a common direction along a main line route with the first vehicle pulling off of the main line route to a siding section route to allow the second vehicle to pass the first vehicle on the main line route,
• a meet event involving the first and second vehicles moving in opposite directions along the main line route with the first vehicle pulling off of the main line route to the siding section route to allow the second vehicle to pass the first vehicle on the main line route,
• a divergence event involving the first and second vehicle moving in the common direction along the main line route with the first vehicle pulling off of the main line route onto a first route after the second vehicle pulls off the main line route onto a different, second route, or
• a convergence event involving the first vehicle moving on the first route toward the main line route and the second vehicle moving on the second route toward the main line route with the first vehicle moving from the first route onto the main line route before the second vehicle moves from the second route onto the main line route;
• determining when the second vehicle is traveling behind the second schedule of the second vehicle and will not arrive at the movement event before the scheduled time of the movement event;
• determining an updated time at which the second vehicle will arrive at a location at which the movement event is to occur;
• and
• slowing the movement of the first vehicle so that the first vehicle travels behind the first schedule of the first vehicle and arrives at the location at which the movement event is to occur prior to the updated time of the movement event.