please empty your brain below
And let's not forget the National Rail network. The next train indicators at many NR stations often don't work properly. The lines served by First Capital Connect and National Express East Anglia (my local train operators) seem to be the worst for this.

Surely it's not too much to ask for the indicators to work properly?

Andrewh | 17.10.08 - 2:09 a.m. | #

Earls Court! Earls Court! Earls Court!

Katie | Homepage | 17.10.08 - 2:09 a.m. | #

At least with the new Dot Matrix or VEIDS as they are now called (and no I don't know what VEIDS stand for) the station staff have some control over what scrolling messages can be displayed.

On Wednesday I had the up to date international football scores running across mine every four minutes, also with the new dictionary addition we can add and save rude words at the risk of being sacked.

Station Supervisor | Homepage | 17.10.08 - 6:02 a.m. | #

Agree with Katie - Earl's Court. The exhibition end of the westbound platform. Invisible from more than 2 metres away and placed at the head of the stairs from the Picadilly, which open into a bedsit sized space bounded by pillars and a lift. So, a crowd gathers there to watch the indicator and fight for position with the commuters coming up the stairs. Brilliant!

slabman | 17.10.08 - 7:32 a.m. | #

Visual Electronic Information Display System.

Mark Garth | Homepage | 17.10.08 - 8:44 a.m. | #

Another vote for Earl's Court.

Also what about those perfectly adequate indicators around the district/circle line which never seem to tell you trains past the next one to arrive? Occasionally the next train lacks the estimated arrival time (so it just says '1. Wimbledon ') and sometimes there's no text at all!

I don't understand how this is possible considering if you are trying to get on a train at Temple, for example, there can't be too much confusion about where the next few trains are going to go....

Rob | 17.10.08 - 10:05 a.m. | #

Yes, Earl's Court is a farce. The old style boards had destinations pre-set, with a lighted arrow indicating the next train in, pointing towards the relevant platform(however, they only showed the next train, and there were no timings). They've now added newer versions that (mal)function the same: next train only, no timings. Trouble is, there are no arrows, and as all Westbound trains can (and do) use Platforms 3 and 4, you need to keep checking both platform indicators...but due to scaffolding there is no spot where both can be seen at one time. Hence constant to-ing and fro-ing of awaiting crowds. Also, on emerging from the Piccadilly Line and seeing a train about to leave, one has to fight through people to locate a board to identify which train it is.

Steven | 17.10.08 - 10:05 a.m. | #

On a related matter, what about the Countdown indicators at bus stops? These seem to work fine in central London where buses arrive one after another, however in the suburbia that is Outer London where buses are much less frequent, the damned Countdown indicators never seem to be working!

michael | 17.10.08 - 10:18 a.m. | #

"Visual Electronic Information Display System."

I'd be fascinated to see a non-visual display system...

Add Old Street Northbound, chunky Camera boom extends right accross it. I have a picture for you.

James | 17.10.08 - 10:48 a.m. | #

Would it maybe be quicker to name and praise the stations where you CAN see the things?

disgruntled | Homepage | 17.10.08 - 1:14 p.m. | #

I would like to join the marauding masses and shout about Earls Court. Particularly painful if you are attempting to get a train to Kensington Olympia (even moreso after waiting for 20 minutes at South Kensington due to poor signage...)

Jess | Homepage | 17.10.08 - 1:53 p.m. | #

OK, OK, Earl's Court!
There must be others...

diamond geezer | Homepage | 17.10.08 - 2:57 p.m. | #

Also southbound on the piccadilly line: Turnpike Lane. There, indicators only seem to light up once a train has left Wood Green (one station/2 "minutes" up the line).

It's not as egregious as some of the other train indicators that have been noted by others, but often gives the impression that delays are most severe, when in fact there are no delays at all.

dunce | 17.10.08 - 4:01 p.m. | #

King's Cross, Victoria line southbound, obscured by a cctv camera and most of the time shows "xton"

mclm | 17.10.08 - 4:19 p.m. | #

Boston Manor, but that will probably be the same as at Northfields. At Boston Manor the train normally sounds it's horn on approach, you then see the train and then just before it reaches the platform the display finally tells you it's going to Cockfosters as 99\\% of them do.

Kennamatic | Homepage | 17.10.08 - 6:24 p.m. | #

Not 100\\% reliable but if the line isn't on TfL's live departure offering at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetr...epartureboards/
 then it is probable the information is naff because the signalling system cannot provide it at present.

Pedantic of Purley | 17.10.08 - 6:40 p.m. | #

Seven Sisters, Walthamstow-bound platform. Often lies outright - sometimes advertises the first 'Stow train as being as much as 14 minutes (14 minutes gap, on the Victoria Line!) away as one comes rumbling in.

Case in point: http://www.flickr.com/photos
ic...hogg/466696489/

Nico | Homepage | 18.10.08 - 12:02 a.m. | #

From what I recall Bayswater's displays only a displayed a train within hearing distance, however it has been a while since I was there.

Another Andrew | 18.10.08 - 12:13 a.m. | #

What about the eastbound Central Line platform at Bank?

Andrewh | 18.10.08 - 1:30 a.m. | #

Upney Station. There is a next train indicator for the east bound district line, but I don't think I have ever seen it work.

Dagenham Heathway, has those VEIDS system, but they only tell you that there is a District Line train next. Surprising really, as only District Line services go there.

Also, while I've mentioned Dagenham Heathway, on all the underground maps, and line diagrams it gives the impression that the station is "step free". This true if you don't want to actually get on a train. Have you tried to get on, or off a train there? Its quite a big step to the platform.

Gary | 18.10.08 - 8:38 a.m. | #

Bond Street (Jubilee line) southbound also has a board blocked by a "way out" sign.

Inspector Sands | Homepage | 18.10.08 - 3:25 p.m. | #

Hammersmith H\\%C station - meant to show which platform the next train is leaving from, but as often as not the announcers turf you off that train once you've all boarded it. I'm beginning to think the indicator tells you the only platform *not* to go to.

Catherine | 18.10.08 - 7:34 p.m. | #

Seven Sisters southbound is rarely operational. Baron's Court is equally useless, they're pretty much unreadable most of the time.

Dean | Homepage | 20.10.08 - 12:50 p.m. | #

Edgware is truly awful...I know you've already got it on your list. But if I take a train from Barbican that gets into Edgware and then I want to change to get to High St. Ken, I have absolutely no idea which platform I'm supposed to stand on. This happens to me EVERY FREAKIN' TIME.

Krista | Homepage | 20.10.08 - 9:31 p.m. | #

If anything could be done about the Hammersmith District line indicators, that would be fantastic!

I can only speak for the eastbound ones, as that's the direction my commute takes in the morning. They lie. Usually there is no information on when the next train is coming (just scrolling info on keeping luggage with you, etc), and when there is, it invariably says 1min or 2min - to appease us commuters - but the train does not arrive. The display then goes blank. I've yet to see a train turn up at the indicated time.

Perhaps it's better outside rush hour, but it's exceedingly frustrating if commuters are trying to decide if it's worth using the Piccadilly instead...

MJ | 27.10.08 - 8:20 p.m. | #

Wembley Park messed up when I was there once. It said a Met was in 3 minutes (on the Jubilee platforms) when a Jubilee didn't come for 6.

Tube Geek | 23.01.16 - 9:53 a.m. | #











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