As the results from the Rider Report Card project trickled in, straphangers continually noted that announcements in subway cars were both useless and mostly unintelligible. On some lines — B trains, I’m lookin’ at you — the PA systems feature feedback and static; on others, the volume on the announcements is just too low to hear.
This isn’t, of course, a new problem. NYC Transit has dealt with PA problems in their subway cars from time immemorial. But now, with the line manager/subway Guinea pig program in full swing, the MTA is going to attempt to rectify this problem. Beginning sometime soon, train cars on the 7 line will be outfitted with better microphones and external speakers in an effort to test better PA systems in the subways. As with everything else falling under the line manager program’s purview, if these new systems are successful, they could spread to the rest of the subway system.
Pete Donohue, the Daily News’ transit beat writer, has more:
Hundreds of subway cars built more than 20 years ago are being outfitted with external speakers so messages can be broadcast directly to riders on station platforms.
Transit officials also are looking to replace the microphones in conductors’ cabs – possibly with the type used by token booth clerks – to improve how well riders on trains can hear the messages…
No. 7 train conductors make their own announcements, but as they lean out the window to see the closing doors and platform, they are a good 12 inches from the fixed microphones, [7 line manager Louis] Brusati said. That’s too far for their announcements to be relayed with adequate volume, he said. Transit workers recently tested two goose-neck microphones that get closer to conductors making announcements with promising results, Brusati said.
For now, this project won’t cost the MTA much. They’ll be using speakers they have in stock but will have to outfit some of the cars electrically.
More problematic, however, is a point made by a Subchatter over the weekend: “What the higher ups apparently don’t realize is that external speakers, open windows, and loud microphones don’t mix. Ask any conductor who works on the (3) line, where the R-62s have always had external speakers.”
The problem there will be feedback. The goose-neck microphones will pick up the sound from the external speakers, and no one’s ears will be happy. This is of course a minor technical problem.
The MTA really needs to address PA system problems. Outside of the new cars, it’s often very hard to hear on-board train announcements, and this move is a step in the right direction.
7 comments
It’ll certainly be interesting to see how this works out for the 7. I never really thought external speakers helped very much on the NTT but it could work for the 7 to hear “EXPRESS EXPRESS EXPRESS” on the platform rather than sticking your head inside. This coupled with the new LED signs should make life easier.
As for the feedback, I wonder if they can buy directional microphones designed to minimize feedback. I guess we’ll see what happens when a test set rolls out in the coming weeks.
In my experience, train announcements are clear and informative. It’s the station announcements that don’t quite resemble human language.
Of even more concern is the fact that the 7 is elevated and runs very close to some residential windows. I’m sure these people have learned to filter out the rumble of a train, but hearing conductor’s voices all the time will be a bigger distraction.
Regarding feedback, I don’t think it will be too big of an issue. There are eleven cars on the train, and only one has a conductor. There is plenty of space to locate speakers so they won’t interfere with the conductors cab. Also, sound doesn’t bounce around an elevated station like it does an underground one. The only place I’ve really encountered bad feedback on the 3 train (and granted, I’ve never taken it end-to-end) is on the Manhattan-bound train at Hoyt St. I always attributed that to the acoustics of the station.
I think this is a good improvement. Although, along with the LED circle/diamond indicators on the rollsigns, it makes me wonder if its worth it – if new trains are coming to that line anytime soon given all the changes to the old ones.
One final thought: I assume that, in the second-to-last paragraph, you meant that the microphones would pick up sound from external SPEAKERS, not external microphones. Just a small glitch in an otherwise wonderful blog.
What they need is quality microphones, speakers, and some digital circuitry which can adjust volume, noise, and echo cancellation in realtime since each station has different acoustics (all of them bad).
The M line was a little more audible this morning. I spotted some of those new R160s on that short little M train line today.
There’s a announcer on the N line that I frequently catch on my morning commute. His accent is half Indian and half Irish. It’s freaking hysterical.
I totally agree that goose-neck microphones would help.
Todd, I swear we have one of those on the 7, too! Maybe it’s the same guy. It is a marvelous accent.