SWITCHPATH LIGHTS

  • Running through switches continues to be one of the highest errors committed on industry track and in intermodal yards. Risks of these errors range from simple broken spindles to millions in damages. Human life is put at risk as well.

  • Train operators spend a considerable amount of time navigating turnouts.  They understand how to interpret targets (SPIs) and check point positions.  If shown a target or points, they will tell you which path the train will take without fail. 

    Train operators are also human.  Like all of us, they are prone to distraction, fatigue, and complacency.   These mental states paired with the simple mental step to interpret targets and points is all it takes to run through a switch and create an extremely risky situation. 

    Today’s training and mitigation strategies (“mind the gap”, “look twice”, “point to the safe track”) are not working. No target to date, including those with arrows, avoids the requirement of the operator to perform the mental step of interpretation. 

    Derailments will continue until the root cause of the problem is solved.

  • SwitchPath Lights are designed around a simple concept: Simply show the train operator which track is safe by illuminating that track. If they approach a switch and see lights in front of them, it is safe to travel through. If the track in front of the is dark and the other track is illuminated, they will quickly know they are on the wrong track.

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SWITCHPATH LIGHTS™

SwitchPath Lights™ –

Patent-Pending Method for Illuminating an Active Track Route

  • As reported annually by the FRA, improperly lined switches has been the leading cause of accidents within industry track and Class I, II, and III railroads for 9 out of the last 10 reported years. Risks of these errors range from simple broken spindles to millions in damages. Human life is put at risk as well.

  • Engineers and conductors spend a considerable amount of time navigating turnouts.  They understand how to interpret targets (SPIs) and check point positions.  If shown a target or points, they will tell you which path the train will take without fail. 

    Engineers and conductors are also human.  Like all of us, they are prone to distraction, fatigue, and complacency.   These mental states paired with the simple mental step to interpret targets and points is all it takes to run through a switch and create an extremely risky situation. 

    Today’s training and mitigation strategies (“mind the gap”, “look twice”, “point to the safe track”) are not working. No target to date, including those with arrows, avoids the requirement of the operator to perform the mental step of interpretation. 

    Derailments will continue until the root cause of the problem is solved.

  • SwitchPath Lights™ are designed around a simple concept: Simply show train engineers and conductors which track is safe by illuminating that track. If they approach a switch and see lights in front of them, it is safe to travel through. If the track in front of them is dark and the other track is illuminated, they will quickly know they are on the wrong track.

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