SWT Customer Info Screens - Being upgraded?

[mooster]

Something I spotted recently which is baffling me - the customer information screens that overhang platforms that SWT use, showing 1st, 2nd and 3rd trains - these seem to be slowly being changed to "new" screens, the only noticeable difference being that the clock is smaller (now the same size as the rest of the text), and the LEDs are closer together so the text looks more defined.

Is there any reason for this upgrade other than the new ones are slightly more pleasing to the eye?! For example, I've spotted the "new" screen on Platform 3 at Woking, yet the others are all the "old" style.

 

[WillPS]

Something I spotted recently which is baffling me - the customer information screens that overhang platforms that SWT use, showing 1st, 2nd and 3rd trains - these seem to be slowly being changed to "new" screens, the only noticeable difference being that the clock is smaller (now the same size as the rest of the text), and the LEDs are closer together so the text looks more defined.

Is there any reason for this upgrade other than the new ones are slightly more pleasing to the eye?! For example, I've spotted the "new" screen on Platform 3 at Woking, yet the others are all the "old" style.

Broken screen replacement?

 

[fgwrich]

Can't answer why SWT are starting to replace there info screens but ive got to say i really don't like the new Info Screens...

On my mini tour of Lorol last night, i ended up at the new Shepards Bush station, which by the way really is a station of clever design:roll:

The only Info screen on Platform one (willsden direction) is of the new type whilst platform 2 (clapham direction) still retains the older and far easier to read type... But id really would like to know who commissioned such a thing. I am 18 and have perfect sight, but these newer screens are small and only any good if you are standing around them, overwise the lovelly orange leds become a blur the further away you are...thus making the next train appear to be 8 Mins when in reality its 3 mins, 9 minutes instead of 6...

Not happy

Sorry...Rant Over

 

[SWT Driver]

The new screens allow the characters which hang below the "line" such as g,q, j & y to appear correctly, otherwise it looks a bit odd with those characters raised, have a look next time you'll see the new screens actually look better when you have any of the above letters in the display.

 

[mooster]

Thanks SWT Driver, that explains it! You'd have thought that the problem of those letters would've been spotted before agreeing with Ferrograph to supply the whole of the network with screens

Is there any logical method to how they are being replaced or is it just a case of wherever whenever? Because only Platform 3 at Woking baffles me!

 

[SWT Driver]

There doesn't seem to be any pattern at all, it seems pretty random, then again that's sort of normal for SWT!

 

[Lampshade]

Aha, much like the PIS on a 458 where approaching is aPProaching (although with the g moved up).

 

[SWT Driver]

That's it. You described it perfectly.

I must admit that I'd prefer it if the clock digits were a little larger as my guide dog can't see them too well.

 

[mooster]

Agree about SWT being random
Just seems a bit of waste of money to me, it must've cost a pretty penny to buy all the screens in the first place, and in railway terms, they weren't exactly bought that long ago! Still, I'm sure SWT know what they are doing...

On the subject of PIS, when I was on the 0732 from Woking t'other week, the PIS had been changed so instead of "South West Trains" next to the clock, it said "Good Morning" - whcih was a very nice touch! Cheered me up!!

 

[thefab444]

I imagine it's part of the contract for their supply, that they get replaced after x years.

I dislike the clock on the new screens, and also the way they cannot display "Delayed" or "Cancelled", appearing as "Delaye" or "Cancelle"!

 

[LondonLarry]

I think many of the LED screens are life expired/out of date, hence the replacement.

 

[SWT Driver]

I imagine it's part of the contract for their supply, that they get replaced after x years.

I dislike the clock on the new screens, and also the way they cannot display "Delayed" or "Cancelled", appearing as "Delaye" or "Cancelle"!

The modified ones were working perfectly the other day when I saw them including "Delayed" or "Cancelled"

 

[thefab444]

I guess the ones at Ashurst haven't been aligned properly then. :roll:

 

[mooster]

I imagine it's part of the contract for their supply, that they get replaced after x years.

Thinking about it, I think the current batch were installed in 2001/2002 (as I remember them going up and staying unused for a while at Frimley station when I first started work) so 7 years is probably about right!

 

[dmacw]

Camberley station has had the new ones for a few weeks now, on both platforms.

 

[Pumbaa]

Can some of us actually get screens please! C'mon LM - pull your finger out! Hemel hasn't even got a clock on the platforms!

 

[Barn]

The screens on the Southeastern platforms at London Bridge have been swapped from old CRT monitors to LED screens in the last fortnight or so.

 

[thefab444]

Camberley station has had the new ones for a few weeks now, on both platforms.

Totton station, oddly, has a new one on the down platform, but an old screen on the up platform.

 

[SWT Driver]

Can some of us actually get screens please! C'mon LM - pull your finger out! Hemel hasn't even got a clock on the platforms!

I think with the service LM gives you, you're all doing time.

 

[fgwrich]

Totton station, oddly, has a new one on the down platform, but an old screen on the up platform.

As does Shepards Bush...

 

[thefab444]

Shepherd's Bush is not a SWT station, nor does it have a model LED screen that SWT have ever used.

A number of SE stations have two different types of screen as well.

 

[mooster]

During the distruption last week, I noticed the new screen on Platform 3 at Woking has the "Cancelle" and "Delaye" problem!

 

[SWT Driver]

Mmm, that problem seems to have transferred itself to the modified SWT ones too.

 

[wintonian]

I also noticed on Monday on plt 4 at SOU the blue departure and arrival screens seemed to be swapped out and replaced - possibly with LCD ones?

 

[SWT Driver]

If they are LCD ones then they won't last long.

 

[thefab444]

Oddly, the other day a train was "Delayed" at ANF, and it fitted on the screen fine, although there was a gap to the right of it as though it had been offset, but by too much.

The new ones at SOU will probably be LED, not LCD.

 

[mooster]

I do like the large LED customer info boards at Woking - in the station entrance on either side. Very flash indeed!

 

[thefab444]

The new ones at SOU will probably be LED, not LCD.

They are indeed LED, they were being installed today. Just need the new platform indicators now!

 

[wintonian]

when are they being switched on? - any guesses?

 

[thefab444]

The ones on platform 4 and one on the footbridge were already functioning. The one on platform 1, however, wasn't.