Railway Metrics and Dynamics Sweden: RMD Develops Mount for Display Screens on Remote Control Units

Switching out a train and rearranging its wagons at a terminal involves a lot of work. What used to be managed by a train driver and a signaler at the back of the train can now be handled by the driver alone, thanks to RMDs rearview camera.

The rearview camera provides the train driver with visibility in the direction of travel when backing up a train. Everything the camera captures is displayed on a high-resolution screen inside the driver's cab. The rearview camera drastically reduces the risk of accidents during switching operations, as it eliminates the need for a person to stand on the last step. It has also streamlined the switching operations and saved a lot of time for the customers who use it.

Now, the next upgrade for the camera system is coming - a mount for the rearview camera's display screen, designed for the remote controls used when locomotives are remotely operated. This way, the driver can see everything the camera captures even when the train is remotely operated, such as the position of switches, signals, distances to stops, or other wagons that need to be coupled.

Remote operation of locomotives at switching terminals is very common. This invention, therefore, enables further significant time savings, with improved visibility and higher precision when trains are maneuvered at terminals or yards.

When a train is cleared to back up blindly after a switch, the operator can simply stay in the same place and back up the wagons with precision and full visibility. The wagons are then uncoupled, and the driver can immediately hop back into the locomotive.

A single train driver can handle the switching work alone, and also avoid many long walks between the front and back of the train.

The mount for the display screen shown in the picture is a prototype. Serial production is expected to begin sometime in the second half of 2024.