"I never expected it to be so complicated"

November 26, 2015 4:01 AM

But here’s the truly crazy thing: The only people who know exactly where that train is are on the train itself. The signal-tower operators don’t know; there’s no one in the Rail Control Center who could tell you, because the F isn’t hooked up to the Rail Control Center. Today, for the F train—along with the G, the A, B, C, D, E, J, M, N, Q, R, and Z—the best the system can say is that the train will get there when it gets there.

Why there are no countdown clocks on New York subway lines.
posted by MartinWisse (3 comments total)

Sadly, a double:

http://www.metafilter.com/154690/NYC-Subway-Signals-and-Countdown-Clocks
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:06 AM on November 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

something important seems to have gone wrong when the tracking apparatus for subway cars is worse than it is for pizzas.

Is where I stopped. Here we are having seriously earnest discussions about self-driving cars, and where I live, kangaroo-avoidance-technology, and some new yorker has a story idea while they're waiting for the train.

I have a story idea too, thanks.

Z-TRAIN: MURDER ON THE ZOMBIE EXPRESS.
posted by adept256 at 4:10 AM on November 26, 2015

That's a pity. Have we covered the kangaroo thing yet? that's interesting
posted by adept256 at 4:18 AM on November 26, 2015