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Today, Cattron-Theimeg Inc. announced it received an order from Union Pacific Railroad for 113 ACCUSPEED™ locomotive remote-control (LRC) systems featuring 220 MHz technology.

Earlier this year, an Association of American Railroads working committee purchased the 220 MHz band to provide member railroads an interference-free frequency when using LRCs.

ACCUSPEEDs feature a patent-pending Synchronized Time Sharing (STS) system designed to enable users to operate up to 10 LRCs on a single radio channel.

"STS provides the lowest spectrum usage cost for LRC operations within the 220 MHz spectrum," said Bob Aiken, Cattron-Theimeg vice president of technical planning, in a prepared statement. "ACCUSPEED already provided the maximum available spectrum efficiency in the 450 MHz band, but the STS technology is even more valuable when spectrum cost increases."

ACCUSPEEDs also feature a patent-pending Electronic Position Detection™ (EPD) system designed to provide pullback protection and zone-sensitive operational backup control by combining track transponder position-sensing data with Global Positioning System verification. Cattron also plans to add a Common Air Interface feature that would enable other LRC suppliers' systems to safely operate in the same location without interference.

UP currently is using more than 400 LRC systems — including several hundred ACCUSPEEDs — in 70 yards, says spokesman Mark Davis.

"We have an advantage in the marketplace because UP is the only railroad that's tried and tested all three suppliers' systems, says Cattron Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing James Kingerski, referring to Cattron, CANAC Inc. and GE Transportation. "I think we'll have an opportunity to provide UP more units in the future."

Operating plants in the Unites States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil and Europe, Cattron has implemented about 10,000 rail-related LRCs throughout the world.

— Jeff Stagl