Method, controller and system for determining the location of a train on a track or of a broken rail of a track

1. A method for determining a location of a train on a track or a location of a broken rail of the track, the track including a first section having a first end and a second end, the train traveling from the first end to the second end of the first section, the method comprising:

injecting a first current into the track at the first end;

detecting an amplitude of the first current at the same end at which the first current was injected;

recording the detected amplitude of the first current at the first end;

detecting that the amplitude of the first current at the first end drops below a first nominal reception level, the first nominal reception level corresponding to a detected amplitude of the first current at the first end when no train is present on the first section and no rails are broken;

determining, in a case where the amplitude of the first current at the first end has dropped below the first nominal reception level, that a rail has been broken; and

determining the location of the broken rail, in a case where it has been determined that the rail has been broken, based on the recorded amplitude of the first current at the first end, at a time when or immediately before the amplitude drops below the first nominal reception level.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the location of a first end of the train on the track, wherein the first end detection is based on the detected amplitude of the first current at the first end.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising injecting a second current at the second end of the first section of the track, detecting an amplitude of the injected second current at the second end of the first section of the track, and determining the location of a second end of the train on the first section of the track, the second end of the train being, in a driving direction, opposite to the first end of the train, based on the detected amplitude of the second current at the second end of the first section of the track.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first current is a pulsed DC current.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first nominal reception level further corresponds to a maximal level, when an axle of the train is positioned adjacent to the first end, where the first current is injected.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first nominal reception level is adapted in regular time intervals.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a change of the amplitude with respect to the time of the first current; and

determining a direction of travel of the train based on the change of amplitude.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the amplitude of a second current injected and detected at the second end of the first section increases, and the amplitude of the first current injected and detected at the first end of the first section decreases.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determination of the location of the broken rail is further based on the detected first current falling below a minimum threshold, when a last axle of the train has just passed the broken rail location.

10. A controller for determining a location of a train on a track or a location of a broken rail of the track, the track including a first section having a first end and a second end, the train traveling from the first end to the second end of the first section, wherein the controller is adapted:

to be connected to a first transmitter and first detector, the first transmitter and the first detector being located at the first end of the first section, wherein the first transmitter is adapted to inject a first current at the first end into the track, the first detector being adapted to detect an amplitude of the first current emitted by the first transmitter;

to receive, from the first detector, the detected amplitude of the first current, which was transmitted at the same end;

to record the detected amplitude of the first current at the first end, wherein the first current was injected at the first end;

to detect that the amplitude of the first current at the first end drops below a first nominal reception level, the first nominal reception level corresponding to a detected amplitude of the first current at the first end when no train is present on the first section and no rails are broken;

to determine, in a case where the amplitude of the first current at the first end has dropped below the first nominal reception level, that a rail has been broken; and

to determine the location of the broken rail, in a case where it has been determined that the rail has been broken, based on the recorded amplitude of the first current at the first end, at a time when or immediately before the amplitude drops below the first nominal reception level.

11. The controller of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further adapted:

to be connected to a second transmitter and second detector respectively located at the second end of the first section, wherein the second transmitter is adapted to inject a second current at the second end and the second detector being adapted to detect an amplitude of the second current emitted by second transmitter; and

to determine a location of a second end of the train on the track directed towards the second end of the section, the second end of the train being, in a driving direction, opposite to a first end of the train based on the detected amplitude of the second current at the second end.

12. The controller of claim 10 , wherein the determination of the location of the first end of the train on the track or the location of the broken rail of the track is based on the first nominal reception level of the detected amplitude of the first current, which corresponds to a predefined or observed amplitude, when no train is in the first section and no rails are broken, and a maximal level, when an axle of the train is positioned adjacent to the first end where the first current is injected.

13. A system for determining a location of a train on a track or a location of a broken rail of the track, the track including a first section having a first end and a second end, the train travelling from the first end to the second end of the first section, the system comprising:

a first transmitter at the first end of the first section, wherein the first transmitter is adapted to inject a first current at the first end into the track;

a first detector at the first end of the first section, wherein the first detector is adapted to detect an amplitude of the first current emitted by first transmitter; and

a controller being connected to the first transmitter and the first detector, wherein the controller is adapted to receive, from the first detector, the detected amplitude of the first current, which was transmitted at the same end, to record the detected amplitude of the first current at the first end, to detect that the amplitude of the first current at the first end drops below a first nominal reception level, the first nominal reception level corresponding to a detected amplitude of the first current at the first end when no train is present on the first section and no rails are broken, to determine, in a case where the amplitude of the first current at the first end has dropped below the first nominal reception level, that a rail has been broken, and to determine the location of the broken rail, in a case where it has been determined that the rail has been broken, based on the recorded amplitude of the first current at the first end, at a time when or immediately before the amplitude drops below the first nominal reception level.