Railway brake system including enhanced pneumatic brake signal detection and associated methods

A railway brake system for a train includes a brake pipe extending along the train, a lead unit controller generating a pneumatic control signal propagated along the brake pipe, and at least one remote unit controller. The remote unit controller preferably includes a brake pipe control valve, such as a relay valve, connected in fluid communication with the brake pipe for selectively charging and exhausting the brake pipe, an air flow rate sensor for sensing air flow into the brake pipe during charging, a brake pipe pressure sensor for sensing brake pipe pressure, and a processor for detecting the pneumatic control signal from the lead unit controller based upon both the air flow rate sensor and the brake pipe pressure sensor. Accordingly, the sensitivity of detection is increased despite delayed operation of the relay valve, and while avoiding false indications. Multiple detection sensitivities may be used. The detection may be used to cut-out the remote unit controller and idle down the locomotive, as when radio communications are lost. The detection may also be used for brake pipe continuity testing and/or to determine the relative position of the remote unit along the train.