Cell Service Coming to Underground Speedline Tunnels?
DVARP wants to know: do commuters want cell phone reception in tunnels in Camden City and Philadelphia? Vote in our poll.
In the past year, Patch readers have helped the Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers (DVARP) improve conditions on the PATCO Hi-Speedline by blogging their feedback to the rider advocacy group.
Now DVARP is asking Patch readers to weigh in on its latest issue: creating cell phone service in the tunnels along the railway.
"We heard from some of our PATCO rider volunteers that providing cell phone reception in the Center City and Camden tunnels is important," Andy Sharpe, Communications Director at DVARP, wrote in an email to Patch.
Sharpe pointed to an existing partnership with SEPTA and AT&T that he said supports most underground cell phone use for customers on that carrier network. DVARP would work to broker a similar deal with AT&T or Verizon and PATCO if there is demand for such from riders.
"Before we do anything, we want to make sure there is indeed enough interest among PATCO riders to pursue this," Sharpe wrote. "While our volunteers seem interested, they're only a small segment of the High-Speed Line's total ridership."
What do you think? Is cell phone service a priority for you as a PATCO rider? Tell us in the comments and vote in our poll.
Phil McConkey
9:27 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
so people can't live without their cell phones for 8 minutes? Do we really need to hear "I'm about to cross the bridge" or "be home in 10 minutes" more than we already do
Shirley
12:32 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
I look forward to those few minutes of reduced noise. Sometimes the din in the cars is almost deafening. Even the quiet car is not always quiet. Do we really need mobile access everywhere and all the time?
Reed Rothchild
9:41 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
It's 2013. The fact that there is no cell service available at any of the Philadelphia stations seems a little ridiculous at this point. I think that PATCO should definitely work to make this an option. Maybe get the busiest stops at 15th-16th & Locust and 8th & Market up and running first and take it from there. It's would not only be convenient for the riders but a safety issue as well for riders waiting at non-rush hour times, especially late night. Cell phone service is not obviously not a necessity, but in 2013 it should be available, at minimum, in high pedestrian traffic areas such as the stops previously mentioned.
Brenda
10:47 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
This would be great! Having cell service underground and at the stations is very important especially when you are stuck underground and need to reach someone. Also agree with Reed about the safety issue.
David Maynard
12:19 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
underground in the station on the Philly side would be more useful for reading, checking email and calling while waiting for after rush hour departures
Andy Sharpe
12:35 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Thanks for your feedback Reed, Brenda, Phil, and David! Phil: This is one reason why PATCO now has a Quiet Car. If you don't want to hear phone calls, sit in the last car.
Everyone: feel free to spread the word about this poll. We want to hear from as many PATCO riders as possible.
Andy Sharpe
Communications Director
Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers
1601 Walnut St., Suite 1129
Philadelphia, PA 19102-2913
Phone: 215-RAILWAY (215-724-5929)
E-mail: sharpe@dvarp.org
Shirley
12:42 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Sadly, sitting in the last car does not ensure quiet. Recently, we were treated to conversations being shouted across the aisle, radios playing, and a couple of really loud mobile phone calls. All this in a car with fewer than two dozen people.
GFY
1:16 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
I think cell service underground is a great idea and probably overdue. How about the next poll is to restrict bikes on the trains during rush hours?
MAJ-13
2:26 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Andy (and whomever else is responsible), thank you for the quiet car and for some early morning sanity in my daily work commute to 8th & Market...as much as I love passenger's meaningless conversations at 6:45am and "need" to be on their phone to say "hold on, I may lose you I am going through the tunnel..." the quiet car is the best...it's refreshing to know that there are others who realize that sometimes the best thing to have in the early morning on the way to work is good old fashioned silence...
Reed Rothchild
3:37 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Andy, I understand that cell phone etiquette is still in the early years but I think that PATCO could be pro-active and set a high standard if they came up with rules prohibiting people talking on their cell phones on the train while it is moving. If there is a delay or any other reason the train is stationary for an amount of time then people should be permitted to talk on their phones, but other than that it I don't think it's beneficial to allow riders to speak on their phones. PATCO is very efficient and reliable and could be a leader instead of a follower if they made some a bold, rider friendly, move such as that. Or alternatively have a "noisy" car where people are permitted to use their phones for talking. Obviously as we progress as a society and technology continues to take over this will become a larger issue in the future. Setting a standard now could only be beneficial to all parties. Unfortunately the general public doesn't always use the common courtesy or sense so any instructions to do so can only help.
Andy Sharpe
12:53 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Hi Shirley,
Thanks for letting us know about the lack of Quiet Car enforcement. PATCO is putting renewed emphasis on the Quiet Car for 2013, although it will be limited to rush hour periods.
If you can give specifics about problems with noise, we would be willing to look into the issue. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail at sharpe@dvarp.org with more information on noisy PATCO rides.
Brenda
1:21 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
To me, it is more about when there is an emergency on the train, and I will be late for work or getting home late to pick up my child from daycare in time.
When trains are backed up in the tunnel because of an open-door issue on the car I'm in or in another car or the line is temporarily shut down for 45 minutes because of smoke coming from a car -- I would like to have phone service.
Also, if Mr. Sharpe knows why you are charged a full fare if I have to leave the platform to exit because of these stops/shut downs and take another route as opposed to just equalling it out. Or do I have to contact someone to get a credit? Thank you.
Andy Sharpe
4:16 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Hi Brenda,
Shoot me an e-mail at sharpe@dvarp.org and I'll see what I can do to help you.
Jessica Blanchard
3:36 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Yes it's a great idea to have mobile phone service underground. There have been many times when I've experienced delays or breakdowns while underground and had no way to let my spouse or work know that I'd be late. Sure people talk a lot for other reasons and some people would prefer more quiet, but it's public transportation. You can't restrict people's right to communicate even if it is annoying. There are upsides and downsides to riding public transport.
Phil McConkey
4:09 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Would cell service raise the fares? Nothing is free anymore and we're all in denial if we think PATCO won't raise fares. The money needs to come from somewhere right Andy?
Andy Sharpe
4:15 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
This almost certainly would not raise fares. When SEPTA worked with AT&T to allow many subway and Regional Rail riders to have cell reception, nothing happened to fares. This is because AT&T handled much of the cost. I'm fairly certain AT&T has been happy with the investment. I anticipate the same thing happening in South Jersey.
By the way, if you want more information on DVARP's PATCO initiatives, make sure to check us out @PhillyDVARP on Twitter and Facebook.
Joseph
9:38 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Underground service would be great! You can only stare at the wall for so many minutes while waiting for the next train to come, you know?