{"items": [{"author": "David Chudzicki", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/106120852580068301475", "anchor": "gp-1350614088075", "service": "gp", "text": "When we lived in Chicago it was common for a crowded red line train to announce that it was skipping. I think it probably worked well (although to me personally was never beneficial and frequently harmful). ", "timestamp": 1350614088}, {"author": "David Chudzicki", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/106120852580068301475", "anchor": "gp-1350614190087", "service": "gp", "text": "Also the subways here in SF are sometimes so crowded they can't fit more people. I guess that puts an upper bound on boarding time. ", "timestamp": 1350614190}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/479999785373067?comment_id=480005928705786", "anchor": "fb-480005928705786", "service": "fb", "text": "I've been there enough times when the driver says there's a train directly behind him/her, and you wait another 7 or 8 minutes. Or it actually is right behind them, and practically empty because it's so close. It's not at all reliable. But I understand why they're trying to get people to wait for the next one.
I think running express is probably the best solution, IF there is in fact a train right behind them. Keep in mind that while we have no idea whether they've put such technology in trains right now, there's no reason those drivers couldn't know where the next train is. It's available on smart phones, and it wouldn't be hard to provide it on the train. But the train driver usually isn't making that decision anyway -- someone at the switchboard, who definitely has access to that info, is telling the driver when to run express and when not.", "timestamp": "1350615051"}, {"author": "Gianna", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/479999785373067?comment_id=480015722038140", "anchor": "fb-480015722038140", "service": "fb", "text": "If you made trains run express when they get full, what happens to the people on the train already who planned on being able to get off at a particular stop?", "timestamp": "1350617536"}, {"author": "David Chudzicki", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/479999785373067?comment_id=480033688703010", "anchor": "fb-480033688703010", "service": "fb", "text": "You give them a chance to get off to wait for a local before going express. This was common in Chicago. Presumably other places.", "timestamp": "1350619963"}, {"author": "Joshua", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/479999785373067?comment_id=480146525358393", "anchor": "fb-480146525358393", "service": "fb", "text": "Common in the Boston area (well, as common as expresses are, anyway) as well: generally, the announcement is something along the lines of \"Attention passengers, we are approaching Quincy Center Station. After Quincy Center, this train will be going express to JFK-UMass. There will be no stops between Quincy Center and JFK-UMass. Once again, this train...\" etc.", "timestamp": "1350647331"}, {"author": "David German", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/111229345142780712481", "anchor": "gp-1350652710844", "service": "gp", "text": "+1 to expresses. \u00a0Also, congestion pricing.", "timestamp": 1350652710}, {"author": "Jonah", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/479999785373067?comment_id=480206425352403", "anchor": "fb-480206425352403", "service": "fb", "text": "I've also found that MBTA Red Line passengers have absolutely no sense of how to ride a crowded rush hour train. Whenever there's more than a handful of people, passengers will block the door when there's plenty of space inside the car, delaying the train significantly when it could be easily avoided. So maybe the solution is to make Boston commuters into a better breed of commuters--more like, say, New Yorkers. I've never once been on a Boston train that's anywhere near as crowded as a rush hour Lexington express (4 or 5) train. No exaggeration!
Other possible solutions? I've heard that on New York's L train, which runs through several rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods in Brooklyn and has no express tracks, they've been trying to implement some level of computer control. This would allow for more trains running closer together. Some quick Googling indicates that this has indeed gone into effect, though due to glitches seems to have also caused delays. Other than that I don't know how well it works. Also on the L line they've got displays telling you how far away the next train is, something which I've also noticed has just been implemented on the Red Line in at least South Station. Maybe this would encourage passengers to wait for the next train?
In other words: most days I bike to work. :-)", "timestamp": "1350654609"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/479999785373067?comment_id=480207372018975", "anchor": "fb-480207372018975", "service": "fb", "text": "Jonah -- a very good point. I've been on many trains and buses where people struggle to squeeze on by the entrance, while there's plenty of room elsewhere on the train that they can't get to. Drivers consistently ask everyone to \"move all the way in to the center of the car\", but most people ignore them. At times I've tried to, but you actually have to push through the people who didn't move.", "timestamp": "1350654818"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/103013777355236494008", "anchor": "gp-1350655378290", "service": "gp", "text": "@David German\n\u00a0congestion pricing seems to preclude passes", "timestamp": 1350655378}, {"author": "David German", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/111229345142780712481", "anchor": "gp-1350657779859", "service": "gp", "text": "Yes.", "timestamp": 1350657779}, {"author": "Alex", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/100936518160252317727", "anchor": "gp-1350658529349", "service": "gp", "text": "My local train frequently goes express when it's delayed and crowded at rush hour. It's a hassle but it seems to work pretty well. I've also seen lexington ave locals do the same thing.", "timestamp": 1350658529}, {"author": "Michael", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/110347619670230195222", "anchor": "gp-1350659956986", "service": "gp", "text": "It's actually hard to disrupt a subway schedule this way without the \"cooperation\" of the passengers blocking doorways, holding doors, and trying to crush load (or beyond) the train. \u00a0You're just never going to beat level boarding through multiple doors for boarding efficiency. \u00a0The only two real options are to change passenger behavior, or the Tokyo solution of having people on the platform managing the loading (including shoving people inside so the doors will close).\n
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\nThe practice of a delayed train skipping stops to make up time is called a \"run\", or a \"battery run\", in the lexicon of the NYCTA.\n
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\nOne note: Red Line doors are mirror-symmetrical across the car, right? \u00a0Experience on the IRT shows that having the doors offset from each other encourages proper\u00a0dispersion\u00a0into the car.", "timestamp": 1350659956}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/103013777355236494008", "anchor": "gp-1350662352644", "service": "gp", "text": "@MN\n\u00a0\"Experience on the IRT shows that having the doors offset from each other encourages proper dispersion into the car.\"\n
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\nThat makes a lot of sense.", "timestamp": 1350662352}, {"author": "Molly", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/479999785373067?comment_id=480249502014762", "anchor": "fb-480249502014762", "service": "fb", "text": "When I was living in Paris I lived on a very busy metro line, and during rush hour they would have basically bouncers in orange vests standing on the platform at the busiest stops and drawing the line for how many people could get onto the train. They also had signs on the platform with the arrival time of the next train AND the next one after that. Another thing that I liked about the Paris metro that I haven't noticed as much in other subway systems (maybe because I don't have as much experience with them) is that the trains ALWAYS went left to right past the platform, and the doors ALWAYS opened on the right.", "timestamp": "1350662629"}]}