Automatic detection of train arrival through an accelerometer

The paper deals with the problem of train arrival detection in tracks maintenance sites. Worker safety has, in fact, to be guaranteed and injuries due to undetected train transits are, unfortunately, very common. Several solutions have already been presented based either on human sentinels or automatic detection systems. They, however, suffer from high operating costs and long assembly time, respectively. To overcome the aforementioned problems and provide workers and maintenance factory with a safety system suitable also for short time operations, the authors propose hereinafter a new method for train detection based on the use of an accelerometer mounted on the track. Thank to a suitable data acquisition system and a proper digital signal processing algorithm, the method is capable of sensing the train transit about 1 km apart from the accelerometer installation site. Several tests carried out on actual tracks highlight the reliability of the method, thus suggesting its implementation in an automatic track warning system.