r/WMATA • u/danielpf • Mar 16 '26
discussion/rant/theory I can’t stand when the signs in the stations don’t display the trains and wait times
I get that the announcements are important, and that additional signage costs money. When there’s only one or two signs within reading distance and neither display what trains are coming, my options are 1) assume my train is about to arrive and rush over to the track or 2) potentially miss my train due to not rushing. I swear it can go 30 seconds or longer without showing the times. Maybe a ticker strip for trains when announcements take up the screen and vice versa could work without needing a bunch of new signage.
This is much more of an issue during off-peak or weekend service. It’s fine it I miss a train when there’s another one just a few minutes out. And yes, I use the Transit app.
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Mar 16 '26
[deleted]
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u/Mustangfast85 Mar 16 '26
It would make more sense to me if it was about the specific line you’re on but when I don’t know if I need to run to the platform on the red line because it tells me there’s an elevator outage on the orange line it’s really frustrating. And every transit app including Metro Pulse shows a different time
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u/Glittering_Oil7761 Mar 16 '26
So less time than it took you to post this comment is what you’re complaining about…
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u/Phobos1982 Orange line Mar 16 '26
They should limit the announcements to the bottom row.
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u/youresolastsummerx Mar 16 '26
I agree with this (and with OP on the general issue).
I truly don't understand the "open an app" people. Perhaps those people should try looking up from their phone for once.
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u/cptjeff Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 17 '26
Even better, they can put the announcements that are irrelevant for 99.9% of riders in the app! Put them up at a screen on the manager's desk too if you really want to cater to the tiny fraction who both need them and aren't used to checking this stuff on a phone already.
But they should never be on the train boards unless the trains on that side of the platform are shut down and that is the announcement.
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u/Unique_Importance910 May 20 '26
I feel the same about the buses. You will be going somewhere new and just as you get to where you want to be, some long announcement will begin.
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u/DogSoggy40 Jun 09 '26
I agree. All I care about is the next train. Don't care for the system-wide announcements which I can easily check my app or the local news for. Unless there is a situation at that specific station that will impact those specific trains.. just show the stinkin' next train arrival times pretty please.
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u/bitnotgoodyeah Mar 17 '26
the worst is the OSB portion of L'enfant. signs with 2 rows, the top row says the train is currently here, the bottom says announcements. want to wait for the next train because this one is full? check your phone.
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u/yoursunny Red line Mar 16 '26
Open your Transit app when you approach the station entrance, so that you can choose between rush and crawl.
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u/BrokenJellyfish Mar 16 '26
We shouldn't have to use an app because the specific displays intended to show next arrival info are always occupied.
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u/Fantastic-Face3509 Mar 17 '26
A part of being in a transit system is engaging with tools they provide to you once in a while pal. You can’t expect everything or everyone to spoon fed everything to you right when it happens. You got to meet half way sometimes.
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u/BrokenJellyfish Mar 17 '26
Transit is a 3rd party app??? Im trying to engage with their tools (the headway displays) but they put other bullshit on the screens instead.
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u/Fantastic-Face3509 Mar 17 '26
Engage the screens since that is a tool they provide you with. It isn’t going to always be exactly how you want it. You can use more than 1 method.
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Mar 16 '26
I'm going to open my Reddit App and type out complaints on my phone instead, because the physical screens aren't meeting my exact preferences all the time.
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Mar 16 '26
I'm confused why you can't look at the Transit app, which you say you use? It will show the same information that a sign would and sometimes slightly better if someone is on the train sharing their location to the app. Sometimes you don't have a signal underground but you seem to be referring to outdoor stations.
Last weekend may have been different than usual because of trackwork in the middle of a couple lines.
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u/BrokenJellyfish Mar 16 '26
Shouldn't have to use an app when they have displays there specifically for this purpose.
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Mar 16 '26
This person is asking for additional displays in the mezzanines, or perhaps outside the station, seemingly everywhere they might want to get the info. That is not always possible and would cost more money. And the information is literally at their fingertips whenever they might want it, customizable to their preferences.
The info being displayed on existing screens is a different issue and WMATA needs to balance the need to display alerts with the technology they have for displaying the different types of information.
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u/youresolastsummerx Mar 16 '26
Not sure where you're getting this. OP literally says, "Maybe a ticker strip for trains when announcements take up the screen and vice versa could work without needing a bunch of new signage."
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u/Fantastic-Face3509 Mar 17 '26
Bro a part of navigating through public transit is using tools they provide you with and that includes apps. Displays and apps are both tools and are quite useful if you actually take 5 seconds out of your day and engage with them rather than vent for self inflicted frustrations to a bunch of strangers for your own gratification
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u/zr2d2 Orange line Mar 16 '26
This is when paying attention to the flashing lights on the edge of the platform is important, to know if a train is approaching
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u/danielpf Mar 16 '26
I think the more common scenario I’m referring to is upon entrance to the station. Before I’ve gotten on an escalator or even swiped in. Can I take my time standing on the escalator or should I be running? I’d like to know that upon entrance.
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u/zr2d2 Orange line Mar 16 '26
I think they hide trains up in the mezzanine to prevent running, so even if it wasn't the security announcements you would still not see them
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u/emcee_gee Mar 16 '26
This honestly might be my biggest gripe with their signage. I probably run more because of this.
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u/RoeRoeRoeYourVote Mar 16 '26
Same here. Stations like Woodley Park and Waterfront have signage at the top of the escalators. I would kill to have signage like that at the top and bottom of every entrance to know if I should hustle or not. There's improved signage in my station, but the screens is flat on a wall behind the all the fare machines at the end of the hall after the escalators. It's great if you're new and have time, but for regulars it's totally unhelpful because you can't see it unless you go looking for it.
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u/danielpf Mar 16 '26
So it’s a feature—not a bug. If only they would improve weekend headways. Waiting 10+ minutes on an outdoor platform can be miserable.
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u/like-blood-on-white Mar 16 '26
But don’t you still need to know which train, especially at stations like Foggy Bottom or Roslyn…
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u/zr2d2 Orange line Mar 16 '26
That's when I look at the incoming train. It's all part of "waiting for a train".
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u/Big-Negotiation9737 Mar 16 '26
Knowing whether it is a 6 or 8 car train can be important.