VREs Version of Nessun Dorma! (English: None shall sleep!) The northbound VRE Train 302 was running 5 minutes late this morning due to equipment problems. It turned out that the automated station announcement system was on the fritz. Just after boarding at the first stop (Fredericksburg) and before even reaching our seats, we heard, Now arriving at Union Station (the last stop on the run). Apologizing to the confused passengers via loudspeaker, the conductor rightly remarked, What a way to start a Monday morning! The system blathered incessantly the entire trip, blaring random station stops every 10 to 15 seconds that it interspersed with random warnings not to cross the tracks until after the signal was raised due to the danger of an approaching high speed train. (Apparently, the VRE staff was helpless to disable the system. It reminded me of the original Star Trek episode The Ultimate Computer in which the M-5 computer, the latest invention of the brilliant Dr. Richard Daystrom who is confidant that his unit can not only take control of the starship but do a better job than humans can, runs amuck.) At least we were not treated to random episodes of Life on the Train, VREs soap opera parody which advises commuters about helpful tips, pleads with them not to leave trash behind, warns about unsafe shoes, etc.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 12:26:47 +0000
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