by James Neely, freelance writer: click | HERE | to inquire about writing services

There have been several train and rail mishaps in the last few weeks that have underscored the need for closer oversight of trains, their routes and driver activities.  It sounds like a custom-made situation for a GPS Tracking solution.

The rail industry needs to be able to better manage their trains, and the way they are being operated.  If they fail to do this, those who use their services will dwindle.  Safety on public transportation has to be the highest priority.  Anyone who dismisses this point and says that these accidents that happened so closely to each other were just a fluke has made a mistake.

There has to be a concerted effort to become better at safety and service.  One tool that needs to be used and can benefit all forms of land, water and even air based public transportation, (with the exception of underground trains and subways),  is GPS tracking.

Monitor for location.

When you know the location of your trains, and their respective distance from each other, you can avoid “close call” incidents or tragedies.  Placing a GPS tracking device in each car at the beginning and end of a set of trains will help you be able to tell distances between trains with greater accuracy.  Sharing the responsibility between management and train operators is a positive step towards insuring safety.

Monitor for speed.

Are the trains that you are following travelling too fast?  Is on gaining rapidly on another?  You can know at a glance with real-time GPS tracking units and the feedback that they afford to you.

Monitor for direction of travel.

Monitoring moving trains requires knowledge of direction of travel.  Properly spaced trains on the same track that are moving the same direction is not a problem.  Two trains on the same track moving towards one another is.  You can know for sure with a GPS tracking system.

Monitor for maintenance.

How long has it been since your train cars have been in for maintenance?  Are you sure that your records are correct?  GPS tracking can help in this area, too.  The miles of operation can be viewed and reported on with one of these devices.  This helps confirm that your maintenance schedules are up-to-date and accurate.  This counts for a lot, especially when the lives of the public are put at risk.

Monitor for customer service (on-time scheduling).

How do your trains run with respect to scheduled stops?  Are they consistently late?  Do you need to make changes in order to help them better at this?  You can know with GPS tracking.

Now, more than ever, it is time to invest in GPS tracking technology to help manage and maintain public train operations.  The investment is cheap compared to the safety that these devices afford you.