Late train notification service

[BLOND37]

is it just me or do i see a flaw with their system... i mean it tells you if a train is 15 mins late (yea so and)... it'd be nice to know/ get updated info.. like every half hour or something.. right?

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

is it just me or do i see a flaw with their system... i mean it tells you if a train is 15 mins late (yea so and)... it'd be nice to know/ get updated info.. like every half hour or something.. right?

You propose, what, exactly? Having Amtrak call thousands of people's cell phones when a train is late??

 

[BLOND37]

is it just me or do i see a flaw with their system... i mean it tells you if a train is 15 mins late (yea so and)... it'd be nice to know/ get updated info.. like every half hour or something.. right?

You propose, what, exactly? Having Amtrak call thousands of people's cell phones when a train is late??

um yea sure why not J/K

if they can send out a email when a train is 15m late why not 30, 60 etc

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

is it just me or do i see a flaw with their system... i mean it tells you if a train is 15 mins late (yea so and)... it'd be nice to know/ get updated info.. like every half hour or something.. right?

You propose, what, exactly? Having Amtrak call thousands of people's cell phones when a train is late??

um yea sure why not J/K

if they can send out a email when a train is 15m late why not 30, 60 etc

Because that would cost a fortune and clog servers... Especially when you can check train status online or on the phone quite easily. There is no problem here.

 

[Upstate]

is it just me or do i see a flaw with their system... i mean it tells you if a train is 15 mins late (yea so and)... it'd be nice to know/ get updated info.. like every half hour or something.. right?

You propose, what, exactly? Having Amtrak call thousands of people's cell phones when a train is late??

I know Continental Airlines has a automatic trip notification service that calls whenever a plane is going to be delayed. Its not an unreasonable idea.

 

[BLOND37]

is it just me or do i see a flaw with their system... i mean it tells you if a train is 15 mins late (yea so and)... it'd be nice to know/ get updated info.. like every half hour or something.. right?

You propose, what, exactly? Having Amtrak call thousands of people's cell phones when a train is late??

um yea sure why not J/K

if they can send out a email when a train is 15m late why not 30, 60 etc

Because that would cost a fortune and clog servers... Especially when you can check train status online or on the phone quite easily. There is no problem here.

uh huh i see.. well now... i'll let this dog lie but i know in my heart of hearts something is amiss lol

 

[BLOND37]

is it just me or do i see a flaw with their system... i mean it tells you if a train is 15 mins late (yea so and)... it'd be nice to know/ get updated info.. like every half hour or something.. right?

You propose, what, exactly? Having Amtrak call thousands of people's cell phones when a train is late??

I know Continental Airlines has a automatic trip notification service that calls whenever a plane is going to be delayed. Its not an unreasonable idea.

thank you

 

[BLOND37]

and what if a train is an hour late but then makes time and is only 20 mins late..

the NJ PATH train system does this

 

[Upstate]

and what if a train is an hour late but then makes time and is only 20 mins late..
the NJ PATH train system does this

That is why they put in the little disclaimer about trains making up time en route. I never pay attention to the estimated arrival time anyway. Its the time that it left its last station that lets you know what is really going on.

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

is it just me or do i see a flaw with their system... i mean it tells you if a train is 15 mins late (yea so and)... it'd be nice to know/ get updated info.. like every half hour or something.. right?

You propose, what, exactly? Having Amtrak call thousands of people's cell phones when a train is late??

I know Continental Airlines has a automatic trip notification service that calls whenever a plane is going to be delayed. Its not an unreasonable idea.

The problem is a plane makes one stop. If the EB is running an hour late out of MSP are you going to call the people in SPK?

Its one thing for a train to be expected "late" its another to actually figure out how late because they're affected by so many factors...

 

[Long Train Runnin']

is it just me or do i see a flaw with their system... i mean it tells you if a train is 15 mins late (yea so and)... it'd be nice to know/ get updated info.. like every half hour or something.. right?

You propose, what, exactly? Having Amtrak call thousands of people's cell phones when a train is late??

I know Continental Airlines has a automatic trip notification service that calls whenever a plane is going to be delayed. Its not an unreasonable idea.

The problem is a plane makes one stop. If the EB is running an hour late out of MSP are you going to call the people in SPK?

Its one thing for a train to be expected "late" its another to actually figure out how late because they're affected by so many factors...

I agree, I mean the train status things is kind of hard to judge there are a lot of factors and the padding and and extra stops make things even more confusing then an airplane.

 

[Upstate]

is it just me or do i see a flaw with their system... i mean it tells you if a train is 15 mins late (yea so and)... it'd be nice to know/ get updated info.. like every half hour or something.. right?

You propose, what, exactly? Having Amtrak call thousands of people's cell phones when a train is late??

I know Continental Airlines has a automatic trip notification service that calls whenever a plane is going to be delayed. Its not an unreasonable idea.

The problem is a plane makes one stop. If the EB is running an hour late out of MSP are you going to call the people in SPK?

Its one thing for a train to be expected "late" its another to actually figure out how late because they're affected by so many factors...

Sure. Continental's autodialer even calls you at whatever time you specify letting you know that your flight is on time and what gate the plane is assigned to. They can call every customer for every flight even if it is on time.

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

is it just me or do i see a flaw with their system... i mean it tells you if a train is 15 mins late (yea so and)... it'd be nice to know/ get updated info.. like every half hour or something.. right?

You propose, what, exactly? Having Amtrak call thousands of people's cell phones when a train is late??

I know Continental Airlines has a automatic trip notification service that calls whenever a plane is going to be delayed. Its not an unreasonable idea.

The problem is a plane makes one stop. If the EB is running an hour late out of MSP are you going to call the people in SPK?

Its one thing for a train to be expected "late" its another to actually figure out how late because they're affected by so many factors...

Sure. Continental's autodialer even calls you at whatever time you specify letting you know that your flight is on time and what gate the plane is assigned to. They can call every customer for every flight even if it is on time.

Yes, I really want to know the train schedule to arrive 36 hours from now is one whole hour late. How asinine.

 

[sky12065]

Regardless of how one feels about the notification, I would not pay attention to it if I were going to catch the train I'm checking on. If I did pay attention to it and the train made up lost time, I'd hate to see my train pulling out of the station as I was arriving, but would personally feel that it was my own darn fault,\... at least after I calmed back down! :lol:

On the other hand, if I were checking up on a trains lateness because I'll be picking up someone at the station, the trains making up time on the schedule wouldn't in comparison be anywhere as big an issue for me!

 

[p&sr]

Regardless of how one feels about the notification, I would not pay attention to it if I were going to catch the train I'm checking on.

Once when I was catching the Coast Starlight in San Jose (a two-hour drive from my home), Amtrak telephoned me (at home) to inform me that the Train was going to be late. Of course, according to my answering machine, they called just TEN MINUTES before scheduled departure. What were the odds that I would still be there, waiting for that call, if I really intended to ride? Anyway, even if I'd been there and learned then about the delay, I STILL would have missed the train if at that point I'd started on my way to San Jose.

The only safe approach is to assume that EVERY Train will arrive on time, and BE THERE for it. Bring a good book in case it isn't.

If you actually know when the Train left the next station down the line, AND if you know the minimum possible travel time between Stations, then you can estimate the actual delay. Otherwise not.

Maybe they thought my number was for a Cell Phone? ("Cellular" to some of us...) But then I'd have to already be at the Station (unless I were planning to miss the Train), in which case I would have ALREADY Known about the delay prior to receiving the Call. So the Call could have no conceivable utility in any case or in any fashion.

But still, it was kind of nice to know they cared...

 

[chertling]

One option that could work would be similar to what my local airport offers. On their website, http://www.flykci.com, you can sign up for text or e-mail alerts for your specific flight. Then, beginning two hours before your scheduled departure, they begin to automatically send text messages to your phone or e-mail address.

If the flight is on time, you would receive at least two text messages confirming the on time departure (generally, one message two hours prior to departure, another roughly one hour prior to departure).

If the flight is not on time, you will receive a notice stating the expected delay two hours before the scheduled departure... then additional text messages/e-mails whenever the status changes.

The same "Notify Me" service is available for arriving flights.

Given the length of many Amtrak routes, the 2 hour timeframe could be adjusted to, say 4 or 5 hours, for long distance routes.

 

[jackal]

One option that could work would be similar to what my local airport offers. On their website, http://www.flykci.com, you can sign up for text or e-mail alerts for your specific flight. Then, beginning two hours before your scheduled departure, they begin to automatically send text messages to your phone or e-mail address.
If the flight is on time, you would receive at least two text messages confirming the on time departure (generally, one message two hours prior to departure, another roughly one hour prior to departure).

If the flight is not on time, you will receive a notice stating the expected delay two hours before the scheduled departure... then additional text messages/e-mails whenever the status changes.

The same "Notify Me" service is available for arriving flights.

Given the length of many Amtrak routes, the 2 hour timeframe could be adjusted to, say 4 or 5 hours, for long distance routes.

You can replicate similar functionality for any flight through a number of other websites. My favorite is http://www.flightstats.com, though I have friends who prefer http://www.flightaware.com.

 

[haolerider]

One option that could work would be similar to what my local airport offers. On their website, http://www.flykci.com, you can sign up for text or e-mail alerts for your specific flight. Then, beginning two hours before your scheduled departure, they begin to automatically send text messages to your phone or e-mail address.
If the flight is on time, you would receive at least two text messages confirming the on time departure (generally, one message two hours prior to departure, another roughly one hour prior to departure).

If the flight is not on time, you will receive a notice stating the expected delay two hours before the scheduled departure... then additional text messages/e-mails whenever the status changes.

The same "Notify Me" service is available for arriving flights.

Given the length of many Amtrak routes, the 2 hour timeframe could be adjusted to, say 4 or 5 hours, for long distance routes.

You can replicate similar functionality for any flight through a number of other websites. My favorite is http://www.flightstats.com, though I have friends who prefer http://www.flightaware.com.

Try www.amtrak.mobi.com for all kinds of things you can do from your phone.

 

[Crescent ATN & TCL]

Make an automated text notification system for cellphones, our local news station has a system called e-warn that sends all weather warnings to your phone.

 

[ruudkeulers]

Isn't there usually some guy/girl on duty at the station that can inform you about delays when you arrive there? (Provided the station is staffed of course).

Ruud