An Advanced Train Control System (ATCS) is a North American system of railroad equipment designed to ensure safety by monitoring locomotive and train locations, providing analysis and reporting, automating track warrants, detecting blind spot and similar orders.
[2] The basic principle behind ATCS is to provide a cost efficient, safe, modular, train control system with an open architecture.
These systems collect, process, and distribute data with minimal input from dispatchers, enginemen, and foremen.
MCP clients include wayside interface units, on-board computers, and track forces terminals.
An architecture to achieve this mission has evolved in the LSI Specifications which describe multiple configurations of electronic and mechanical components in a locomotive cab.