Metrolink, LIRR launch efforts to better communicate travel times

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Metrolink have joined forces to provide train travel times from Orange County to Los Angeles Union Station, while MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) has launched a new digital service that provides real-time train arrival status to riders with mobile devices or desktop computers.

In Los Angeles, Caltrans and Metrolink jointly developed a pilot project to demonstrate to commuters that trains are a viable alternative to freeways. Both train and freeway travel times now are displayed on electronic highway message signs near the Fullerton and Anaheim train stations, Caltrans officials said in a prepared statement.

For travel between Orange County and downtown Los Angeles' Union Station, trains are often faster than freeways," said Acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. "We want to give commuters real-time information to help them get to their destination quicker."

Meanwhile, LIRR is piloting LIRR Train Time™ for riders using the Port Washington branch. The service will provide upcoming departure times and indicate whether each train along a destination is running on time, LIRR officials said in a prepared statement.

LIRR Train Time uses real-time location information provided by an enhanced GPS system and from the railroad’s signal system, they said. Its graphic interface is based on one used by MTA Metro-North Train Time™.