Re: Passenger Information Displays

[Simon Buxton <sb@zip.com.au>]

Hi,

As a normal user and not a rail expert, I would like to see a start with
very simple ideas used such as a printed timetable on platforms at all
stations. All too often one hurries to avoid missing a train at newer
stations where there is no next train display at the (or all) barriers
(e.g Town Hall {one barrier only} or Sydney Eastern Suburbs stations).
After arriving on the platform one then never knows how long to wait - I
assume the "time to next train" displays as used on the London
Underground are unlikely to be common in Sydney for a few years (I did
see one at Sydenham once).  

Another gripe while I am at it, why can't North Sydney Station have a
conspicuous indicator at the barrier showing the next platform for the
City? Trains can leave from one of 3 platforms and the normal barrier
display does not reflect late running etc. I know it is good exercise
going to one platform then running to the other as a train comes in, but
not all passengers appreciate it.

Simon 

Alex Borodin wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Just wondering what sort of thoughts ya'll have about
> Passenger Information Displays, especially the Outdoor LED type
> displays like they have in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
> 
> Does anyone have any comments about the usefulness of the
> information being displayed on the signs? What sort of
> information would YOU display on an LED sign if you were
> given a free reign over the project? Imagine that you have
> signs which are about 160cm long, 18cm high and can
> display 42 characters across and two rows in height (each
> char is 8cm high), or 14 characters across in a single row of
> characters (each char is 18cm high. )
> 
> What sort of info would like to see on there? Imagine that
> it's a busy station where trains can be platform-swapped
> at any time. Passengers need to know if the train they
> are waiting for is now scheduled to go off another
> platform.
> 
> Are count-down clocks more useful for estimated departure
> times than actual times? Do you need the current time on
> the sign? Do you need the complete stopping pattern (as is
> done in Sydney) or just something like "Express to Caboolture"
> or "All Stations Caboolture"?
> 
> I want to hear all of your grips, complaints, suggestions,
> comments, and kudos about all the different PIDS LED signs
> you've ever come in contact with.
> 
> We're looking at developing a new system for Brisbane
> and we want to make it as useful, reliable and simple to
> understand as possible. I shall endeavour to reply to all
> suggestions if you care to post your replies both to this
> newsgroup and to my email address.
> 
> Thanks in advance for your input!
> 
> --
>  o Alex Borodin B.Eng(Hons)        o Queensland Rail
>  o Software and Systems Engineer   o Ph: +61-7-3235-2482
>  o Signal and Operational Systems  o Fax:+61-7-3235-2747
> "What you do is what you are. As a man thinketh, so he
> becomes"

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