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Red Line riders can get real-time arrival info at South Station
By adamg on Tue, 10/19/2010 - 3:17pm
The MBTA today installed a monitor in the Red Line stop at South Station that will show next-train arrival info, similar to the real-time displays installed earlier this month at Ruggles and Back Bay on the Orange Line. The T says it's readying a similar display for the Blue Line at Government Center.
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Comments
How about cutting the map and
How about cutting the map and doing what the rest of the world does?
"Next train to Ashmont: 4 minutes
Next train to Alewife: 5 minutes
Next train to Braintree: 7 minutes"
Is it really so hard?
Yes, because they have no
Yes, because they have no idea when those trains are going to arrive! All they know is where they are.
Think of all the times your train has slowed down, or simply stopped, in the tunnel. They are controlled by radio operators who do whatever they feel like, so there is no real way to figure out their ETA.
Hey what's wrong with maps?
I actually took a side trip to Ruggles to check one of these out. The buses are listed as you have suggested, but you can see the trains moving in real time--pretty cool. I even hung out for a bit as I could see that there was, indeed, "another train directly behind" as the conductors say.
The advantage of the map is you can see all the trains on the line--in both directions-- in real time. On the platform, it would be nice to have simple "next train in x-minutes" type of sign. These maps are outside the turnstiles--allowing you to see what the situation is before you pay.
Well, if youre walking into a
Well, if youre walking into a station and you see "next train 1 minute" you know to hurry up. By the time you can focus on whats going on with the map, it's too late.
DC lists the next 3 trains in each direction (so 6 trains total) so its easy to see if there is one directly behind it. The displays are big, bright and easy to read from a distance while moving. I havent seen this map in person, but you probably have to be standing right in front of it to see which train is A or B and which directions theyre moving.
What's wrong with maps
Maps.
They don't love you like I love you.
Reading lyrics is so 2003.
Reading lyrics is so 2003. Here is 30 seconds of "Maps" for your listening pleasure. Yeah Yeah Yeah!
The T says it's readying a
You mean the one that's been there for about a year now? The one that was operating just fine until they shut it off for some reason ~6 months ago?
Seriously, next time you're at Gov't Center go stand at the bottom of the escalator and look toward the ceiling. Look for a flat panel monitor that's almost completely hidden. That thing was broadcasting real-time arrival data since January (at least that's when I first noticed the thing) until about June. I have no idea why they turned it off. I guess it was too helpful.
Geesh...some people really
Geesh...some people really need to stop there whining already!
These real-time monitors are awesome! I'm looking forward to more of them being installed throughout the system.