Wabtec Railway Electronics, a unit of Wabtec Corporation, and March Networks Corporation, a leading manufacturer of IP-based video surveillance systems for the transportation market, have teamed to produce VideoTrax, a rugged Digital Video Recorder (DVR) created specifically for the railway industry. VideoTrax is based on March Networks' mobile DVR system which is used in operational and trial public safety applications in North America and internationally. Hardened for the locomotive environment and featuring the ability to integrate with data from Wabtec's locomotive event recorders, VideoTrax offers flexible configuration, including multiple camera and audio options and easy-to-use data analysis and playback tools tailored for the rail industry.
"We feel VideoTrax will give our customers the video and audio data they need to more thoroughly investigate grade-crossing accidents, particularly when combined with the data from our on-board event recorders," said Robert Haag, vice president of programs for Wabtec Railway Electronics. "The combination of video, audio and event data is very compelling. Our relationship with March Networks allows us to provide a feature-rich DVR solution with a proven track record that further leverages the value of Wabtec's existing on-board solutions."
"This new locomotive DVR and partnership with Wabtec represents a great opportunity for March Networks to address new market opportunities while leveraging our intellectual property investments," said Peter Strom, president and CEO for March Networks. "North American freight rail operators will now be able to benefit from valuable video information from on-board their locomotives. We see this as the perfect complement to our other rugged mobile DVRs that address security and safety issues in the public transportation market."
The locomotive DVR incorporates a patent-pending environmental control system. To ensure applicability in international markets, the locomotive DVR was developed to locomotive systems integration standards. Additionally, the compact size and rugged features of the system allow it to be applied in other rail and transportation environments for enhanced commuter safety and security.
