Subway electronic indicators

Those indicators seem like such a good idea until you realize they hardly work right at all. It's kind of convenient at night when it can tell you a train may be more than a half hour away, but still, if you can't trust 'em it won't actually give you any information. Seems like such an easy thing to do too -- you have the train trip some switch that tells how fast it's going and calculates when it will get to the station. Oh well. I'd much rather have that system work right than have cell service in the stations though.

Why is this so difficult for particular trains? The L has had that since I have lived in Willy and those timers are spot on to the minute. What gives?

@marinterran, JenMac The ones where I live are just very new, and I think they're still testing them. That's what I'm telling myself. I certainly hope they can get it together and have the things working consistently, and soon.

@DBlack the MTA is definitely testing them for they have installed them at the 81st and Central Park West station as well but so far those indicators only tell the time and date. I really cant understand why NYC which has one of the world's oldest and most extensive subway systems still hasn't got this amenity when subway networks all over the world ( London, Hong Kong, Singapore) all do.

They're great and all, but I'd rather they didn't spend the money and reduced our fares instead - the prices are ridiculous!

I think those things are really good to have, though, and can actually make things safer. You don't have to stand out on those scary platforms at night until the train is just about to arrive. Always a good thing.

That's a good point, @uraniumfish - but then where else would you stand in order to see the signs? Unless they post the thing online...

@ajadedidealist The signs at my station are posted on the top level, within sight of the attendant. That's where people wait because it's safe. However, the Manhattan-bound train comes on the track one level down. So the signs are useful because people can go downstairs when they know the train is coming. I think that's what Uraniumfish meant about the signs making the wait a little safer, right?