If you’ve caught a train recently you may have noticed a change to the shelters at most stations, the glass on the shelter walls has a new look to it.
These have replaced the motifs that previously adorned many stations.
From what I’ve seen the new design seems to let in more light which is good and the company behind it say the pattern allows for better camera vision and that it does an excellent job of hiding scratch tags. However I’ve also seen complaints from some readers that it still makes it hard to read real time display boards at some stations.
@jkranen still can't see real time board through them though
— Jochem Kranen (@jkranen) March 17, 2016
Have you seen the changes and what do you think of them?
Perhaps change the real time board to make it a little easier to read? Might be too pricey though.
The Auckland PIDS are really plain and boring. Overseas I have seen them make use of monitors/tv’s to display the information in full colour. Lets them colour the line and show heaps of information, e.g. amount of carriages, how full the train is and which services it connects to (e.g. in Auckland it could show if it connects with Pukekohe shuttle or even bus services) or out further south whether it connects with a Manakau service at Puhinui.
Prefer the old ones. More colourful. These ones more pacific.
Agreed the old trees seem more NZ
Sunnyvale one already been scratch tagged 🙁
How can it possibly make it harder to see the real time boards?
Probably because it blocks your view, without the graphics you can see clearly, with them they are mostly blocked by the graphics. Its especially bad at New Lynn due to how the seating and PIDS are arranged.
There were no graphics on the shelter ends before, so the PIDs were clearly visible from outside the shelters. Might only be an issue for those with limited mobility sitting on the outside seats, or with bags of shopping who don’t want to have to keep moving it when the want to check the signs or have it nicked if they step away from it.
Can see the security reason downside to the old graphics, they obscure anyone lurking in the bushes behind the shelter.
These new patterns look like grannies old window nets. Surprised the don’t open this space up to advertisers like the bus shelters.
Agree. Preferred the trees and flowers etc.
Manurewa ones are still showing Electric trains are coming early 2015.
What is the point of the Graphics? Is there a reason not to use just ordinary glass, or is it just an aesthetic thing?
The blog post says:
“the company behind it say the pattern allows for better camera vision and that it does an excellent job of hiding scratch tags”
The glass requires a protective plastic film anyway, the designs help hide tagging/scratches and (arguably) improve the appearance of the station.
I assume it’s a single design for all stations now, too. Probably works out a bit cheaper than the old ones.
One thing is certain, AT have an enormous budget for station signage and whatnot. They’re constantly tinkering with the look of the stations.
I’d hardly call it a huge budget. This is plastic film on top of glass to protect against and hide tagging and needs to be replaced periodically, so the new film has a different pattern. The signs themselves are of course being replaced since the MAXX brand no longer exists since quite some time now, but you’ll note that most stations still have the old signage.
They trialled such LCD signs with more info, such as where the buses were in relation to the stop and their loading, on the Symonds Street bus stops. What the decision after that trial was and whether it will be rolled out is perhaps something someone here knows? They looked pretty great, and nice to be able to glance over and see how far away your bus was.
Honestly, couldn’t see the PIDs? How hard is it to walk a few paces to where the PIDs can be seen? Have we become that lazy?
Perhaps you aren’t disabled, or carrying half a dozen bags of shopping, but others are.
Sometimes it’s raining, don’t want someone else to take one’s seat, lots of people with kids waiting at platforms… The list goes on.
More rates/tax money down the toilet.
Stations and bus stops don’t receive nearly enough attention really. This really doesn’t cost much and they needed replacing anyway.