Station Name-boards

[LYRobert]

I find it impossible to read the names of stations as we "Whistle by, in the train" because they are always sited parallel to the direction of travel. That means the text is seen as just a blur. However, looking at the same thing in other countries they place some of the boards at right angles to the direction of travel, making them easy to read, even as one passes by at speed.

I make a plea for station names to be positioned at right angles to the tracks, and maybe towards the ends - both ends - of the platform. Then we can know where we are even if we don't stop.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Then we can know where we are even if we don't stop.

I can see why you might like to know this. But why would you need to know this?

 

[birchesgreen]

I can see why you might like to know this. But why would you need to know this?

To know if your stop is coming up soon perhaps, then you can start to make preparations especially if its complicated (young family for example).

 

[LYRobert]

I can see why you might like to know this. But why would you need to know this?

Because for me a train journey is an unfolding story, out there through the window I see the land I live in moving by, urban scenes, rural scenes, industrial scenes, rivers, coast lines, woods and hills - need I to go on? And there is detail, the shape of that roof, congestion evident on that road, looks like high tide just now - that sort of thing. It is never boring, but then it is my profession I'm looking at, and I know a lot about it. I couldn't be captivated by a book, or my hand-held 'device' (just what are they all looking at?) with all that going by outside. So that's why I like to know where I am, and in a way I do need to know. Sitting in my Cross-Country seat I see my fellow travellers reading the paper, or a book, or listening to the tss-tss--tss sounds through their earphones, and note that it is un-trendy to be interested in the view through the train window, studying one's mobile phone is what one does now-a-days, all the time, to the exclusion sometimes of personal safety even.
Not complaining - just observing.
Yes - I NEED to know.

 

[zwk500]

What's wrong with google maps and the PIS on-board?

 

[LYRobert]

What's wrong with google maps and the PIS on-board?

Nothing wrong with 'em. But as a substitute for looking out of the window? So, maybe, that you don't have to?
I'm reminded of the cartoon in PE last year where one guy says to another "I've got this new app - it shows you where you're walking so you don't bump into anything".
The world is inside your mobile phone!

 

[birchesgreen]

Well not all trains have PIS, and i don't think any tell you about stations you are passing through.

I need to know as well.

 

[zwk500]

Nothing wrong with 'em. But as a substitute for looking out of the window? So, maybe, that you don't have to?
I'm reminded of the cartoon in PE last year where one guy says to another "I've got this new app - it shows you where you're walking so you don't bump into anything".
The world is inside your mobile phone!

I quite like looking out of the window as the train goes by, watching the world. It's also fun on regular journeys to look out for little landmarks, etc or to try and recognise which station we've just flown past at speed. However if I need to know where I am then I've got a device that will tell me exactly where I am without me hoping to catch a glimpse as we sail through a station.

 

[LYRobert]

I quite like looking out of the window as the train goes by, watching the world. It's also fun on regular journeys to look out for little landmarks, etc or to try and recognise which station we've just flown past at speed. However if I need to know where I am then I've got a device that will tell me exactly where I am without me hoping to catch a glimpse as we sail through a station.

Yes - that's the spirit. That's using the technology for a purpose - not for just for entertainment.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Because for me a train journey is an unfolding story, out there through the window I see the land I live in moving by, urban scenes, rural scenes, industrial scenes, rivers, coast lines, woods and hills - need I to go on? And there is detail, the shape of that roof, congestion evident on that road, looks like high tide just now - that sort of thing. It is never boring, but then it is my profession I'm looking at, and I know a lot about it. I couldn't be captivated by a book, or my hand-held 'device' (just what are they all looking at?) with all that going by outside. So that's why I like to know where I am, and in a way I do need to know. Sitting in my Cross-Country seat I see my fellow travellers reading the paper, or a book, or listening to the tss-tss--tss sounds through their earphones, and note that it is un-trendy to be interested in the view through the train window, studying one's mobile phone is what one does now-a-days, all the time, to the exclusion sometimes of personal safety even.
Not complaining - just observing.
Yes - I NEED to know.

Using your analysis above, what if you need to know where you are and you're not passing a station?

To know if your stop is coming up soon perhaps, then you can start to make preparations especially if its complicated (young family for example).

Again, what if there isn't a conveniently preceding station (at which, we must assume, the train isn't calling - because if it was calling speed wouldn't stop you reading the conventional signs)

 

[birchesgreen]

Using your analysis above, what if you need to know where you are and you're not passing a station?

Again, what if there isn't a conveniently preceding station (at which, we must assume, the train isn't calling - because if it was calling speed wouldn't stop you reading the conventional signs)

Well if there isn't there isn't but the question asked was why would someone want to be able to read the boards and i offered a possible reason why.

 

[12LDA28C]

Well not all trains have PIS, and i don't think any tell you about stations you are passing through.

I need to know as well.

Is it not a requirement to have a PIS system / announcements for station stops to comply with disability regulations? An announcement or visual indication of the next station stop should be sufficient warning to alert someone that their stop is coming up.

 

[DelW]

Nothing wrong with 'em. But as a substitute for looking out of the window? So, maybe, that you don't have to?
I'm reminded of the cartoon in PE last year where one guy says to another "I've got this new app - it shows you where you're walking so you don't bump into anything".
The world is inside your mobile phone!

I agree that I like to be able to see which station I'm passing through too, and it's often impossible to read the signs. The traditional solution was "running-in boards", bigger signs at each end of each platform. But in those days without on-board PA or PIS, they were necessary, and I can see that a cash-strapped railway might not regard it as worthwhile providing them now.

I don't find Google maps responsive enough to give me an accurate location on fast trains, but I use my phone to show RTT in detailed mode, plus the time, to tell me where I am.

Is it not a requirement to have a PIS system / announcements for station stops to comply with disability regulations? An announcement or visual indication of the next station stop should be sufficient warning to alert someone that their stop is coming up.

I think the OP's point was more about tracking where you are on non-stop services.

 

[birchesgreen]

Is it not a requirement to have a PIS system / announcements for station stops to comply with disability regulations? An announcement or visual indication of the next station stop should be sufficient warning to alert someone that their stop is coming up.

They tend to be as the train is approaching the destination, in my example someone might want more warning than that.

 

[zwk500]

I agree that I like to be able to see which station I'm passing through too, and it's often impossible to read the signs. The traditional solution was "running-in boards", bigger signs at each end of each platform. But in those days without on-board PA or PIS, they were necessary, and I can see that a cash-strapped railway might not regard it as worthwhile providing them now.

Trains are faster now as well, so even a big running-in board isn't very helpful as you often have half the time you used to.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

the question asked was why would someone want to be able to read the boards

No it wasn't:

But why would you need to know this?

(Italics as original)

 

[birchesgreen]

No it wasn't:

(Italics as original)

Yes and my reply gave any example as to why someone would need to know.

 

[Fleetmaster]

With practice, and assuming you're already looking, you can develop the skill of locating the board and fixing your eyes on it as you pass. You'll find you can then successfully read it, even if at the time you think you didn't manage it due to the sheer speed. The brain can process visual input faster than you can comprehend what it is doing at the time. It's a great way to freak the kids out, who will think you have Super Powers. You can of course also cheat.

 

[michael8]

Because for me a train journey is an unfolding story, out there through the window I see the land I live in moving by, urban scenes, rural scenes, industrial scenes, rivers, coast lines, woods and hills - need I to go on? And there is detail, the shape of that roof, congestion evident on that road, looks like high tide just now - that sort of thing. It is never boring, but then it is my profession I'm looking at, and I know a lot about it. I couldn't be captivated by a book, or my hand-held 'device' (just what are they all looking at?) with all that going by outside. So that's why I like to know where I am, and in a way I do need to know. Sitting in my Cross-Country seat I see my fellow travellers reading the paper, or a book, or listening to the tss-tss--tss sounds through their earphones, and note that it is un-trendy to be interested in the view through the train window, studying one's mobile phone is what one does now-a-days, all the time, to the exclusion sometimes of personal safety even.
Not complaining - just observing.
Yes - I NEED to know.

I agree

 

[The exile]

Is it not a requirement to have a PIS system / announcements for station stops to comply with disability regulations? An announcement or visual indication of the next station stop should be sufficient warning to alert someone that their stop is coming up.

Whether it is or isn’t, they are frequently wrong and you only have to think of the number of times passengers ask others “is this the train for xyz?” To know how much credibility is attached to them. While it would clearly cost a fortune to implement everywhere all at once - it surely wouldn’t be that hard when re-signing is being done anyway (or even just larger running-in boards)

 

[Western Sunset]

Back in the day, many stations had lighting positioned at right-angles to the track, with the station name illuminated within the transparent plastic unit.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Must have done East Croydon to London Bridge, and back again, several thousands of times in the past, but I'd certainly struggle to name the (eight?) intermediate stations that the fast trains whizz by, and in their correct order. The station name boards were invariably a blur.

 

[gg1]

Back in the day, many stations had lighting positioned at right-angles to the track, with the station name illuminated within the transparent plastic unit.

The writing was on the small side though, I doubt you'd be able to read the station names from trains passing through at 100mph+.

Going back much further, the Midland Railway used angled running in boards presumably for exactly the reason the OP describes.

 

[birchesgreen]

Some stations have angled name boards now, though in some cases probably due to the local youth up to hijinks.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Built up a collection of these over the years, this one dates from 1980, but outside of cities and town centres, the general landscape and things like churches and minor roads haven't changed that much, and it can be fun working out where one is, and educational - I learnt far more using these and my two wheels back in the day, than I ever did in geography class!

Edited: Are those cries of 'Luddite' I can hear.....

 

[BrianW]

Because for me a train journey is an unfolding story, out there through the window I see the land I live in moving by, urban scenes, rural scenes, industrial scenes, rivers, coast lines, woods and hills - need I to go on? And there is detail, the shape of that roof, congestion evident on that road, looks like high tide just now - that sort of thing. It is never boring, but then it is my profession I'm looking at, and I know a lot about it. I couldn't be captivated by a book, or my hand-held 'device' (just what are they all looking at?) with all that going by outside. So that's why I like to know where I am, and in a way I do need to know. Sitting in my Cross-Country seat I see my fellow travellers reading the paper, or a book, or listening to the tss-tss--tss sounds through their earphones, and note that it is un-trendy to be interested in the view through the train window, studying one's mobile phone is what one does now-a-days, all the time, to the exclusion sometimes of personal safety even.
Not complaining - just observing.
Yes - I NEED to know.

Is an excellent response- thank you.

Is it not a requirement to have a PIS system / announcements for station stops to comply with disability regulations? An announcement or visual indication of the next station stop should be sufficient warning to alert someone that their stop is coming up.

It isn't.

I agree

 

[12LDA28C]

They tend to be as the train is approaching the destination, in my example someone might want more warning than that.

I think you're crediting the average passenger with rather more detailed route knowledge than is actually the case. Many passengers who travel regularly on a particular route still don't know all the intermediate stations and so wouldn't know if a particular station they pass through meant they were nearing their destination so I very much doubt the occasional traveller on an unfamiliar route would have a clue. I would go as far as to suggest only an enthusiast with a good knowledge of the railway system and/or geography would use a passing station as an indication of when to prepare to alight.

Is it not a requirement to have a PIS system / announcements for station stops to comply with disability regulations? An announcement or visual indication of the next station stop should be sufficient warning to alert someone that their stop is coming up.

It isn't.

Paragraph 11 of schedule 1 to The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2010 would appear to indicate otherwise.

 

[birchesgreen]

I think you're crediting the average passenger with rather more detailed route knowledge than is actually the case.

Not everything has to be for the "average" (whatever that may be) or lowest common denominator.

 

[12LDA28C]

Not everything has to be for the "average" (whatever that may be) or lowest common denominator.

Sadly, that's what pretty much everything in modern Britain seems to be catering for these days. Warnings on McDonald's coffee cups that 'contents may be hot' and suchlike.

 

[blackfive460]

Going off topic somewhat but on the subject of need to know...

In some parts of Europe, some smaller stations only have a name board on the station building which means, if you are unsure of where you are and are at the back of the train, by the time you see the board, you've missed your stop!