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The Next Eastbound Train Will Be Arriving In Thirty Seconds

March 28, 2011 Public Transit, Transportation 38 Comments

ABOVE: A MetroLink train pulls into the Brentwood station on opening day, Aug 26, 2006

Riders of our light rail system, MetroLink, are used to hearing a number of platform announcements, including:

“Attention passengers, the next eastbound [or westbound] train will be arriving in thirty seconds.”

I’m sure the visually-impaired passengers find this announcement very helpful. Â To the rest of us it is rather humorous. Â At the Forest Park station the announcement usually doesn’t start until the train is already pulling into the station.

It would be nice to know if the next train is nine or five minutes away. Â When heading westbound before Forest Park it would be nice to know if the next train is headed to the Airport or Shrewsbury. This shouldn’t be too difficult to accomplish but it would be helpful information.

- Steve Patterson

Janem722

I always wish they would have a countdown on the red signs.
Janem722

I always wish they would have a countdown on the red signs.
http://strominator.com David Strom

I have often wondered how hard it would be to implement such an announcement that would actually say the destination for all trains — completely agree with you! David
David Strom

I have often wondered how hard it would be to implement such an announcement that would actually say the destination for all trains — completely agree with you! David
Anonymous

The real question is how to best allocate limited resources? Is it better to spend money on elements that enhance the rider’s experience or is it better to spend money on actually providing bus and rail service? The cost to implement a better system on the platforms would likely be the cost to operate a bus route for year. Fortunately, there’s also “an app for that”. Other systems tie their existing vehicle GPS information into smartphones, for little or nor additional cost: http://www.iphoneness.com/iphone-apps/12-best-local-transit-apps-for-iphone/
JZ71

The real question is how to best allocate limited resources? Is it better to spend money on elements that enhance the rider’s experience or is it better to spend money on actually providing bus and rail service? The cost to implement a better system on the platforms would likely be the cost to operate a bus route for year. Fortunately, there’s also “an app for that”. Other systems tie their existing vehicle GPS information into smartphones, for little or nor additional cost: http://www.iphoneness.com/iphone-apps/12-best-local-transit-apps-for-iphone/

MiamiStreet63139

Exactly, a question of how to allocate resources. Everyone will put their line in the sand somewhere different, but my observation is that increasing rider comfort and convenience encourages more riders. Think about it, they would never cut corners for safety such as removing window panes to save weight, though doing so might save enough money for another bus line.

I’m not advocating for leather seating and cocktail lounge cars, but it would be nice to have countdown clocks and recorded clearly audible messages.

JZ71

Given how quickly technology is evolving, with the rapid adoption of smart phone technology, my guess is that investing in signs at stations makes about as much sense as investing in pay phones for “rider convenience”. Going the app route might only serve 20% of the riders this year, but in 3 years, that could easily be 75%, or more. Given that better signs would take at least that long to implement, I’d rather see Metro spend less money on something that will be both more cost-effective and better for more riders.

Eric

So why not put a smartphone in each station, with the app, and hook it up to the loudspeaker/message board? That would be much cheaper than running a bus route for a year OR expecting every rider to buy a smartphone.

shortindiangirl

Because that means designing a post to hold the Smart phone that cannot be broken into. Then digging up the platform to wire it up to speakers that cannot be vandalized (yea right). Then paying for the Smart phone’s data service. And then getting the maintenance folks to make sure to go out there and fix the Smart phones and the speakers every time there is a problem. And of course to allocate some resources to designing this thing, bidding it, and contracting for it.

Even the simplest of solutions is sometimes more work and dollars than its worth.

Wqcuncleden

Perhaps the real purpose of the announcements is more of a safety issue. They are to let people know that a train is coming, so don’t be hanging around on the very edge of the platform, which is exactly what so many idiots would do if it weren’t for those announcements.
Wqcuncleden

Perhaps the real purpose of the announcements is more of a safety issue. They are to let people know that a train is coming, so don’t be hanging around on the very edge of the platform, which is exactly what so many idiots would do if it weren’t for those announcements.
Anonymous

I’ve been on numerous public transportation systems that have two features. (1) signs at the stops with a countdown until the next train. (2) recorded messages during the ride alerting passengers to upcoming stops, making it much more clear than the barbled messages often heard on our MetroLink announced by a human driver.
MiamiStreet63139

I’ve been on numerous public transportation systems that have two features. (1) signs at the stops with a countdown until the next train. (2) recorded messages during the ride alerting passengers to upcoming stops, making it much more clear than the barbled messages often heard on our MetroLink announced by a human driver.

Jeff Abernathy

I believe the countdown at least is coming. Its part of the technology upgrade they are adding to all the busses and the Metrolink. Soon enough you’ll be able to know how soon the train or a bus is coming.
David

Garbled announcements is right! On the bus you get one of three options for stop announcements: None at all, one that is too soft and garbled to understand, or one that is so loud you lose hearing for a few seconds. A few buses have automated announcements that come on periodically, but how hard is it to install a fully-functioning system announcing stops and the current bus you are on? Being a regular user I don’t need this info but I always feel lousy for irregular users and visitors who must either guess or ask strangers where they are.

Anonymous

Exactly, a question of how to allocate resources. Everyone will put their line in the sand somewhere different, but my observation is that increasing rider comfort and convenience encourages more riders. Think about it, they would never cut corners for safety such as removing window panes to save weight, though doing so might save enough money for another bus line.

I’m not advocating for leather seating and cocktail lounge cars, but it would be nice to have countdown clocks and recorded clearly audible messages.
Anonymous

Given how quickly technology is evolving, with the rapid adoption of smart phone technology, my guess is that investing in signs at stations makes about as much sense as investing in pay phones for “rider convenience”. Going the app route might only serve 20% of the riders this year, but in 3 years, that could easily be 75%, or more. Given that better signs would take at least that long to implement, I’d rather see Metro spend less money on something that will be both more cost-effective and better for more riders.
Jeff Abernathy

I believe the countdown at least is coming. Its part of the technology upgrade they are adding to all the busses and the Metrolink. Soon enough you’ll be able to know how soon the train or a bus is coming.
Eric

So why not put a smartphone in each station, with the app, and hook it up to the loudspeaker/message board? That would be much cheaper than running a bus route for a year OR expecting every rider to buy a smartphone.
michi

They should have the announcements in English and French to honour our past heritage and for any French tourists who use the metro. It just might make our region more accessible and friendly to European travelers.
michi

They should have the announcements in English and French to honour our past heritage and for any French tourists who use the metro. It just might make our region more accessible and friendly to European travelers.

Al Fickensher

Aw gimminy!, that’ll provide the foot in the door for Les Gendarmerie Des Languages.

JZ71

Actually, Spanish, Bosnian, Vietnamese and Mandarin would be more useful!

Funny-guest

And in African. Everyone needs to help Africans.

Al Fickensher

Aw gimminy!, that’ll provide the foot in the door for Les Gendarmerie Des Languages.
Anonymous

Actually, Spanish, Bosnian, Vietnamese and Mandarin would be more useful!
Jsahaida99

When you go to NYC or DC you get lighted boards saying what the arrival times are of the next trains. Getting back from DC and walking through the garage to Metrolink was caused me to almost laugh at the difference in quality at that station. But hey at least we have light rail…
Jsahaida99

When you go to NYC or DC you get lighted boards saying what the arrival times are of the next trains. Getting back from DC and walking through the garage to Metrolink was caused me to almost laugh at the difference in quality at that station. But hey at least we have light rail…
Lklein

I am regularly asked by blind patrons which train has arrived – red or blue line
Lklein

I am regularly asked by blind patrons which train has arrived – red or blue line
shortindiangirl

Because that means designing a post to hold the Smart phone that cannot be broken into. Then digging up the platform to wire it up to speakers that cannot be vandalized (yea right). Then paying for the Smart phone’s data service. And then getting the maintenance folks to make sure to go out there and fix the Smart phones and the speakers every time there is a problem. And of course to allocate some resources to designing this thing, bidding it, and contracting for it.

Even the simplest of solutions is sometimes more work and dollars than its worth.
Funny-guest

And in African. Everyone needs to help Africans.
http://twitter.com/STLTransit STLTransit

Thanks for the great post, Steve. I added your post and another blogger’s over at NextStop and are asking people to give feedback on their ideal MetroLink platform experience. Please come take a look! And also, I imagine the overhead announcements will be updated in the next few years as part of other technological upgrades, but I’m not sure of all the details of the project.
http://twitter.com/STLTransit STLTransit

http://www.nextstopstl.org/3803/from-the-blogs-imagining-your-ideal-metrolink-platform-experience/
http://twitter.com/STLTransit STLTransit

Thanks for the great post, Steve. I added your post and another blogger’s over at NextStop and are asking people to give feedback on their ideal MetroLink platform experience. Please come take a look! And also, I imagine the overhead announcements will be updated in the next few years as part of other technological upgrades, but I’m not sure of all the details of the project.
http://twitter.com/STLTransit STLTransit

http://www.nextstopstl.org/3803/from-the-blogs-imagining-your-ideal-metrolink-platform-experience/
David

Garbled announcements is right! On the bus you get one of three options for stop announcements: None at all, one that is too soft and garbled to understand, or one that is so loud you lose hearing for a few seconds. A few buses have automated announcements that come on periodically, but how hard is it to install a fully-functioning system announcing stops and the current bus you are on? Being a regular user I don’t need this info but I always feel lousy for irregular users and visitors who must either guess or ask strangers where they are.

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The Next Eastbound Train Will Be Arriving In Thirty Seconds

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