UP orders 113 more locomotive remote control systems

Railway Age, April, 2004

As part of a program to convert its terminals to remote control operations by 2005, Union Pacific has ordered 113 ACCUSPEED[TM] locomotive remote control systems from Cattron-Theimeg, Inc.

The systems will feature advanced 220 MHz technology and will incorporate UP's "Common Air Interface," which allows different manufacturers' locomotive remote control systems "to safely operate in the same location without interference," according to Cattron-Theimeg.

Up to 10 remote control systems can operate on a single radio channel with ACCUSPEED's patent-pending Synchronized Time Sharing (STS), according to Cattron-Theimeg. "STS provides the lowest spectrum usage cost for locomotive remote control operations within the 220 MHz spectrum," says Bob Aiken, vice president-Technical Planning for the manufacturer.

ACCUSPEED also includes the patent-pending Electronic Position Detection[TM] (EPD). EPD provides "Pullback" protection and other zone-sensitive operational backup control, by "combining position sensing information from track transponders with verification by Global Positioning Satellite technology," says Cattron-Theimeg.

"We started implementing remote control technology two years ago," says John Bromley, UP spokesman. "Right now, about one-quarter of our terminals have been converted and are equipped with systems from CANAC, GE, and Cattron-Theimeg." UP is "pleased" with the technology to date, Bromley adds, as it has "improved safety and productivity."