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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: 3, Insightful) by opinionated_science on Saturday November 14 2015, @05:14PM
and it fails to mention that the London metro (Underground) was started in 1830, and had to put up with a war or two as well can manage a much larger service - with arrival times.
I am betting there are jobs on the line if automated arrival information becomes available, which is exactly what happened in London (automated signals etc).
The New York subway is amazing, because it moves loads of people.
The New York subway is amazing, because it moves loads of people, with antiquated technology!
A modern metro like WDC is actually very well thought out, although newer, and shows how a modern American metro might look...
My $0.02, and growing up in big city got used to glacial changes...