Rail system having a wired communication zone

1. A rail system, comprising:

a track including a wireless communication zone, a wired communication zone, and a dead zone that is within the wired communication zone;

an electrical contact that extends along the wired communication zone and is configured to transmit electrical energy and a data communication;

a power source electrically connected to the electrical contact;

a controller selectively electrically connectable to the electrical contact and a wireless network;

wherein:

the power source is configured to transmit electrical energy through the electrical contact; and

the controller is configured to:

determine that a rail vehicle is approaching the dead zone, and

switch from data communication transmission via the wireless network to data communication transmission via the electrical contact, based at least in part on the determination that the rail vehicle is approaching the dead zone.

2. The rail system of claim 1 , wherein the track further includes a powered section and an unpowered section, wherein the electrical contact extends along the powered section.

3. The rail system of claim 2 , wherein the powered section and the wired communication zone are coextensive portions of the track.

4. The rail system of claim 3 , wherein the unpowered section and the wireless communication zone are coextensive portions of the track.

5. The rail system of claim 3 , wherein the wireless communication zone is made up of a portion of the track that includes at least a portion of the unpowered section and at least a portion of the powered section.

6. The rail system of claim 2 , wherein the dead zone is a tunnel through which the track extends.

7. The rail system of claim 1 , further including an energy exchange station electrically connected to the electrical contact.

8. The rail system of claim 7 , wherein the energy exchange station is configured to:

initiate power transmission between the energy exchange station and a rail vehicle, through the electrical contact, when the rail vehicle is on the powered section of the track; and

discontinue power transmission between the energy exchange station and the rail vehicle when the rail vehicle leaves the powered section of the track.

9. The rail system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact is one of an electrified rail and an overhead catenary.

10. A method of operating a rail system, comprising:

selectively connecting a controller to a wireless network;

transmitting a first data communication to or from the controller over the wireless network;

selectively connecting an electrical contact to a rail vehicle while the rail vehicle travels on a powered section of a track;

initiating power transmission to or from the rail vehicle via the electrical contact at selected times when the rail vehicle is traveling on the powered section of the track;

determining that the rail vehicle is approaching a dead zone; and

transmitting a second data communication to or from the controller via the electrical contact, based at least on the determination that the rail vehicle is approaching the dead zone.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the electrical contact is one of an electrified rail and an overhead catenary.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein transmitting the second data communication to or from the controller via the electrical contact includes transmitting the second data communication between two rail vehicles which are both electrically connected to the electrical contact.

13. The method of claim 10 , further including discontinuing power transmission to or from the rail vehicle via the electrical contact when the rail vehicle leaves the powered section of the track and travels on an unpowered section of the track.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first data communication is transmitted when the rail vehicle is traveling on the unpowered section of the track.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first data communication is transmitted when the rail vehicle is traveling on the powered section of the track.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second data communication is transmitted when the rail vehicle is traveling in the dead zone.

17. The method of claim 10 , further including at least one of:

forwarding the first data communication through the electrical contact; and

forwarding the second data communication through the wireless network.

18. A rail system comprising:

a track including a wireless communication zone, a wired communication zone, a powered section, an unpowered section, and a dead zone that is within the wired communication zone;

an electrical contact that extends along the powered section and the wired communication zone;

an energy exchange station electrically connected to the electrical contact;

a rail vehicle configured to travel on the track and be electrically connected to the electrical contact;

a controller selectively electrically connectable to the electrical contact and a wireless network;

wherein:

the energy exchange station is configured to:

initiate power transmission between the energy exchange station and the rail vehicle, through the electrical contact, when the rail vehicle is on the powered section of the track; and

discontinue power transmission between the energy exchange station and the rail vehicle when the rail vehicle leaves the powered section of the track; and

the controller is configured to:

determine that the rail vehicle is approaching the dead zone, and

switch from data communication transmission via the wireless network to data communication transmission via the electrical contact, based at least in part on the determination that the rail vehicle is approaching the dead zone.