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| "Bronx-bound (6) train"...no more (385627) | |||
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"Bronx-bound (6) train"...no more |
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Posted by G1Ravage on Mon Feb 12 00:11:15 2007 I was working the (6) line recently, and completely by chance, went down the road with an R-142A that contained an experimental upgrade to the Automated Announcement System. There was a note in the cab notifying the employees that this "test train" had changes, and what they were.Basically, the biggest changes involve the City Hall Loop and all northbound trains in Manhattan. Upon arrival at the Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall station southbound, when the doors open, a new Pellet announcement will play in place of the usual "last stop" announcement: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the last downtown stop on this train. The next stop on this train will be Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall on the uptown platform. Ladies and gentlemen, not only is it unsafe, it is a violation to ride or walk between cars except in an emergency, or when directed by a police officer or the train crew." Upon entering the loop, train crews are asked to play a new "Special Announcement", which can be found uploaded into the Special Announcements screen (also recorded by Pellet): "Ladies and gentlemen, the next stop on this train will be the Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall uptown platform. For your safety, please remain inside of the car until the train comes to a complete stop and the doors open." This move is obviously in response to the recent deaths in the loop, involving people (usually homeless) riding between the cars while going through the loop. On the other hand, now that the trains will play that first announcement automatically, it fully cements the fact that you CAN ride through the City Hall loop at any time. Go right ahead and do it. What's the conductor going to say when that announcement plays? "Uhh....since 9/11, you can't be here anymore. That announcement was made before 9/11. These trains are old." The other major change involves northbound (6) trains. In an effort to lessen confusion over whether the train will be a Parkchester Local or a Pelham Bay Park Express in Manhattan, all northbound (6) trains will make their Bronx announcements starting at Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall, and at all stations thereafter. There will be no more, "This is a Bronx-bound (6) train" or "This is a Bronx-bound (6) local train." At all stations in Manhattan and the Bronx, it will now be, "This is a Pelham Bay Park-bound (6) local train", or whatever the announcement would be at that time of the day. I'm kind of disappointed at this. I can't imagine how there was any confusion to begin with. Doesn't the <6> bullet, or the sign that says "PELHAM EXP", mean anything to people? Or the fact that the strip maps won't have lights on under the local stations in the Bronx? Now, with Pelham Express trains announcing, "This is a Pelham Bay Park-bound <6> express train" in Manhattan, people not familiar with Bronx service will think it's express in Manhattan. One MORE thing was changed...on the interior LED signs, the word "TO" has been removed from the destination. So the sequence is now: (6) BROOKLYN BRIDGE (6) THE NEXT STOP IS (6) ASTOR PL (6) 8:32 PM or (6) PELHAM BAY PARK (6) THE NEXT STOP IS (6) PELHAM BAY PARK (6) 8:33 PM The word "to" has now been completely eradicated from the A Division. It was a such a dirty, dirty word. Now, bear in mind, it was only the test train that had this new AAS program. After a period of time, if the "suits" feel the program works, it will be uploaded to the other trains. Now, will the program spread to the other A Division R-142(A)'s as well? Only time will tell. But the heavy changes only affect the (6) line, with the genocide of the word "to" the only change that would matter on the other lines. Of course, if the (4) or (5) ever terminate at Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall, it would certainly be useful to have that "Brooklyn Bridge Loop" announcement, so I would assume the new program will spread like the Bird Flu. For the hunters out there, the "test train" is 7471-7475:7291-7295. BTW, for those interested, there's still at least one R-142A set on the (6) with a much older version of the AAS...third generation, I believe. The exterior displays still read "LEXINGTON AV LOCAL"/"TO BROOKLYN BRIDGE", and at Bleecker Street, Ettinger announces, "Transfer is available to the (F)(V) and Grand Street Shuttle." This set is 7265-7261:7415-7411. |
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