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As promised last October, NYC Transit has installed video screens on the platform in the Myrtle-Wyckoff station in Brooklyn showing the locations of every L train on the line, updated every 15 seconds. The system was unveiled to reporters yesterday, and L Line General Manager Greg Lombardi was on hand to explain this 21st century marvel to awe-struck commuters. The screens cull data from the L line’s cutting-edge computerized operating system, which tracks exact train locations; if they prove successful, Lombardi promises to expand them to other stations on the L line, so stranded straphangers will at least have something to watch while they seethe. But at least one commuter yesterday was unimpressed, telling NY1, "If they're broke right now, and they're cutting service, I'm not sure they should put money into something like this." An NYC Transit rep tells us the screens were bought at Circuit City (LG 42”) and the system cost "way less than $100,000" to implement.
L Train Subway Screens Show Real-Time Train Motion
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was there really someone under the subway at times square (42nd) like half and hour ago?
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Once Manhattan bound L trains make it to Manhattan, the trains are so backed up. I take it from 3rd to 8th ave most days it is a disgrace. Sinking all of that money into building extra tracks and thus extra capacity at 8th ave would be a much better idea.
That is a good idea, but the cost of that would be very expensive.
For the cost of this system, you could get, what -- 2 feet of new tracks?
And unless you're disabled, how lazy does a person have to be to take the train from 3rd to 8th ave???
Um, that's probably a 30-minute walk for most people. These are avenues, not streets.
It's less than a mile. Should take any able-bodied person about 20 minutes to walk it.
Maybe some people don't want to walk in a blizzard or in the rain or in the iron-melting summer sun or while carrying a large bag of stuff. Isn't the purpose of the subway so you don't have to walk for whatever reason you might have?
Others don't have the luxury of deciding whether or not they want to walk a mile in the elements (for example, my commute = 10 blocks to the train), so maybe you guys should take what you've got and enjoy it.
I'm pretty sure this "cutting-edge" technology has been around in Japan and other countries for decades. Sigh.
Word - skip the bells and whistles, and give us affordable service!
People complain that the system isn't modern enough, which leads to the installation of something like this.
People complain about having an affordable and clean system, which leads to cutting projects like this and putting everything into operations and maintenance.
Which way would you prefer it? Keep in mind, other international systems cost at least double what it does to ride the trains here and they're closed at night for maintenance.
It's cool that we're finally getting this, but honestly how hard could this possibly be to implement elsewhere? The technology all seems pretty simple to me.
"how hard could this possibly be to implement elsewhere? The technology all seems pretty simple to me."
It's only "simple" on the L line because the CBTC system has already installed there, and (because of that system) only the newest generation of cars -- which have the required communications systems installed -- are used on the L.
"San Francisco's Muni system has had those screens for a couple decades. This is nothing new."
It's used in newer systems like San Francisco's because similar control systems, again, are already there. SF's Muni Metro went to computer controlled trains in the early 1990's (not quite "two decades," but yes it's been a while). Transponders, etc., are in place throughout the system and obviously none of the rolling stock is as old as most of that the MTA is still using.
Installing it on other lines in NYC would mean the same major service disruptions L train riders complained about while the upgrades were being made there. And obviously the expense of that installation along with having to replace every car older than the R142s.
San Francisco's Muni system has had those screens for a couple decades. This is nothing new.
A fantastic use of money. Bravo, MTA, bravo.
This money could have been better put to use by tracking the disappearing act employees of the MTA. I'd rather see what they're not doing than where my 2-minute delayed train is pr isn't.
First off, the only LG screens they sell at Circuit City are TVs. They don't need TVs for this, they need monitors (without speakers or tuners), which are significantly cheaper.
Second, any TV you buy in Circuit City is going to be built for a climate controlled living room, not for the harsh temperature, moisture and dust conditions of a subway station. Wouldn't be surprising to see these things start dying within a couple of weeks of installation.
"First off, the only LG screens they sell at Circuit City are TVs. They don't need TVs for this, they need monitors (without speakers or tuners)"
Circuit City has been out of business since last month, but a quick google search for "circuit city lg monitor" brings up several references to LG brand LCD monitors people purchased there.
Who cares, its not like watching how backed up the trains are is going to make them come any faster/more frequently.
Of course! Put the fancy system on the L train, so all the hipsters and yuppies know exactly when their train is coming and can text their friends on their BlackBerrys to let them know they'll meet them at Spice in 13 minutes and 41 seconds.
We could sure use something like this in the Bronx, where some of us wait for work on the elevated platforms in the cold.