Automated real-time positive train control track database validation

A method of verifying a railway track database of a train management system, the track database contains information on a plurality of trackside features located adjacent to a railway track including an identifier that uniquely identifies each trackside feature and a geographical coordinate location of each trackside feature, the method comprising:

• as the train is traveling on the railway track, reading a radio frequency identification tag that is affixed to a first one of the trackside features using a reader disposed on the train, the reader obtaining from the tag a feature identifier that uniquely identifies the first trackside feature and geographical coordinates of the first trackside feature, where the feature identifier and the geographical coordinates are stored in memory of the tag;
• and
• comparing the feature identifier and the geographical coordinates read by the reader with an expected identifier and expected geographical coordinates obtained from the track database.