Thameslink train indicators between Blackfriars and West Hampstead (and
possibly elsewhere) now show for each train a number, presumably the
number of minutes before that train is espected to arrive, or the word
Due meaning the train should be in the platform (or shortly will be, or
has just left). Personally I find this confusing, particularly when it
is the 2nd or 3rd train which is "Due". The advantages of this system
seem only to be that it roughly matches Undeground practice, and it is
more difficult to work out how late a train is!

However the indicators at country stations have not been changed in this
way, so commuters have to get used to both systems.

Does anyone know why this has been done and what the change is meant to
achieve? (Yes, I will ask FCC but won't hold my hreath..) Any opinions
on whether it is an improvement?

Peter Lawrence

In message om, at
18:15:20 on Fri, 25 Oct 2013, Peter Lawrence
remarked:
Thameslink train indicators between Blackfriars and West Hampstead (and
possibly elsewhere) now show for each train a number, presumably the
number of minutes before that train is espected to arrive, or the word
Due meaning the train should be in the platform

This is the way most bus shelter PIS work (in the regions, anyway, I've
not examined a TfL one recently).
--
Roland Perry

On 25/10/2013 21:08, Roland Perry wrote:

In message om, at
18:15:20 on Fri, 25 Oct 2013, Peter Lawrence
remarked:
Thameslink train indicators between Blackfriars and West Hampstead
(and possibly elsewhere) now show for each train a number, presumably
the number of minutes before that train is espected to arrive, or the
word Due meaning the train should be in the platform

This is the way most bus shelter PIS work (in the regions, anyway, I've
not examined a TfL one recently).

TfL ones work like that - the (universally adopted) convention used
elsewhere is that if the system has live (realtime) info on a bus, then
it displays it as arriving in 'x minutes', whilst if it only has
standard timetable info (and no live / realtime running info) then the
scheduled calling time is displayed (e.g. 18:22).

All TfL routes have realtime tracking - elsewhere it's basically up to
the bus company whether they want to install the kit on their buses.
They should - it makes all the difference - but it's a deregulated
industry...

Back to railways and their PIS - it's not just Thameslink stations that
use the 'x mins' until terminology - there's a bit of a mix out there.

On Fri, 25 Oct 2013 21:45:31 +0100, Mizter T
wrote:

All TfL routes have realtime tracking - elsewhere it's basically up to
the bus company whether they want to install the kit on their buses.
They should - it makes all the difference - but it's a deregulated
industry...

Or it can be up to the county council, or transport authority where it
exists... and the bus company may do their own thing as Stagecoach
recently announced.

Back to railways and their PIS - it's not just Thameslink stations that
use the 'x mins' until terminology - there's a bit of a mix out there.

SWT recently introduced this format on London-bound platforms at some
stations -- not all -- but missing out the time of the service, which
certainly masks whether the train is late or not... Southeastern, on
the other hand, show the timetabled departure time as well.

Richard.

Peter Lawrence wrote:
Thameslink train indicators between Blackfriars and West Hampstead (and
possibly elsewhere) now show for each train a number, presumably the
number of minutes before that train is espected to arrive, or the word
Due meaning the train should be in the platform (or shortly will be, or
has just left). Personally I find this confusing, particularly when it
is the 2nd or 3rd train which is "Due". The advantages of this system
seem only to be that it roughly matches Undeground practice, and it is
more difficult to work out how late a train is!

However the indicators at country stations have not been changed in this
way, so commuters have to get used to both systems.

Does anyone know why this has been done and what the change is meant to
achieve? (Yes, I will ask FCC but won't hold my hreath..) Any opinions
on whether it is an improvement?

Peter Lawrence

I too have noticed this and find it confusing, though that's probably due
to an unfamiliarity with the format rather then it being confusing by
design. The ironic thing is they've probably done it to make things clearer
for travellers in the central section more used to TfL boards.

It isn't bothering me too much, so long as they continue to show the
scheduled departure time so one can identify a specific service. I'm no fan
if the SWT way of doing it (eg at Wimbledon London bound) where you don't
even get that.

Lew

I am not sure that the use of "time to wait until…" is a standard, but
it is certainly commonplace on many metro / commuter / suburban rail
services across Europe (or at least in France, Belgium, NL etc) which
have modern control and PIS.

The advantage is that passengers (and, in the UK, "customers") don't
have to consult both the PIS and a clock – where the two are separate –
to figure out if there is time to go to the loo, grab a coffee, a
newspaper, move along the platform, or make other arrangements.

Having said that, when I'm at home getting ready to go out, I find the
use of "time until…" by Live Bus and various apps is a handy if I am
still at my screen – but if I have to go round the flat collecting bag,
laptop, camera, keys, Freedom Pass etc part of my brain is doing mental
arithmetic, matching the countdown time to my watch or a clock. But
that's probably just me.



On 2013-10-26 02:01:04 +0000, Lew 1 said:

Peter Lawrence wrote:
Thameslink train indicators between Blackfriars and West Hampstead (and
possibly elsewhere) now show for each train a number, presumably the
number of minutes before that train is espected to arrive, or the word
Due meaning the train should be in the platform (or shortly will be, or
has just left). Personally I find this confusing, particularly when it
is the 2nd or 3rd train which is "Due". The advantages of this system
seem only to be that it roughly matches Undeground practice, and it is
more difficult to work out how late a train is!

However the indicators at country stations have not been changed in this
way, so commuters have to get used to both systems.

Does anyone know why this has been done and what the change is meant to
achieve? (Yes, I will ask FCC but won't hold my hreath..) Any opinions
on whether it is an improvement?

Peter Lawrence

I too have noticed this and find it confusing, though that's probably due
to an unfamiliarity with the format rather then it being confusing by
design. The ironic thing is they've probably done it to make things clearer
for travellers in the central section more used to TfL boards.

It isn't bothering me too much, so long as they continue to show the
scheduled departure time so one can identify a specific service. I'm no fan
if the SWT way of doing it (eg at Wimbledon London bound) where you don't
even get that.

Lew