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from the they-don't-make-things-like-they-used-to dept.
James Somers wanted to find out why the New York subway's F train still doesn't have countdown clocks to tell you when the next train is arriving. He never expected it to be so complicated.
The New York subway signaling system was one of the earliest attempts to automate a large, complex and chaotic mechanism. It was designed to keep the trains running while making collisions impossible - and it did a pretty good job of that, considering the technology that was available at the time. When it was built in the early part of the 20th century, it was the state of the art - the problem is, much of that system hasn't been updated since then. In the case of the F train, there are no countdown clocks at the station because literally nobody has clear knowledge of the train's position besides the people on the train. (Many other lines do have the clocks.)
Somers' lengthy article examines the nuts and bolts of the signaling system, and also tries to figure out why it's taking so long to bring it up to date - a combination of politics, bureaucracy, and a need to support legacy technology while transporting 5 million people a day.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Saturday November 14 2015, @04:48PM
I'm waiting for those dummkopfs to dig some tunnels between the Brooklyn stations so I don't have to travel into Manhattan to go back into Brooklyn or take four trains. I take the A from Ozone Park and getting to my brothers place in Prospect Lefferts gardens or my friend in Sheepshead Bay. I have to get off the A at Nostrand, Take the C one stop to Franklyn Av, Get on the Shuttle and take it to the end for my brother or transfer to the Q for my friend. Or I can spend twice the fair and get off at Hoyt and Schermerhorn and walk to Dekalb. They have so many stations within a block or so of each other they can dig a friggen tunnel and connect them. Thank god my girlfriend lives off the G that I can transfer to from Hoyt.