Communication system and method for a rail vehicle consist

A method for communicating data in a rail vehicle consist, the method comprising:

• at a first rail vehicle in the rail vehicle consist:
• transmitting first data over a power supply conductor to a second, different rail vehicle in the rail vehicle consist, wherein at least one rail vehicle of the rail vehicle consist receives direct electrical power from the power supply conductor;
• monitoring the power supply conductor for second data;
• receiving the second data over the power supply conductor for use by a first system onboard the first rail vehicle;
• and
• identifying a neutral section in the power supply conductor between the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle that inhibits communication of the first data or second data between the first rail vehicle and the second rail vehicle.

A communication system for a rail vehicle in a rail vehicle consist, the system comprising:

• an interface module configured to be electrically coupled to a power supply conductor that supplies direct electrical power to at least one rail vehicle in the consist;
• a transceiver unit coupled to the interface module and configured to at least one of transmit or receive data over the power supply conductor through the interface module;
• and
• a monitoring module coupled to the interface module, the monitoring module configured to identify a neutral section in the power supply conductor that inhibits communication of the data over the power supply conductor.

A communication system for a rail vehicle in a rail vehicle consist, the system comprising:

• an interface module configured to be electrically coupled to a power supply conductor that supplies direct electrical power to at least one rail vehicle in the consist;
• a transceiver unit coupled to the interface module, the transceiver unit configured to communicate data over the power supply conductor through the interface module;
• and
• a monitoring module coupled to the transceiver unit, the monitoring module configured to monitor the power supply conductor and determine a signal transmission characteristic of the power supply conductor, wherein the transceiver unit switches from communicating the data over the power supply conductor to communicating the data over an auxiliary communication pathway that extends across a neutral section of the power supply conductor based on the signal transmission characteristic.