Caltrain to Expand Visual Message System

Caltrain's visual messaging system will soon be expanded to 10 more train stations, bringing this communications capability to half of Caltrain's 34 stations.

The electronic signboards which provide scrolling text messages are being installed at the Millbrae Intermodal Station in March, in time for the opening of the new facility.

The signs also will be installed at the San Bruno, Hayward Park, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Menlo Park, San Antonio and Mountain View stations by October. Royal Electric Co. is the contractor for the $3.4 million project.

Caltrain's first visual messaging signs went into service in 2000, a major communications and accessibility enhancement at stations with public address systems for spoken announcements.

The signs are used to announce service-related changes or disruptions, as well as to provide safety and customer service information. The first signs went in at the San Francisco, Hillsdale, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Jose Diridon and Tamien stations.

The additional signage will be installed without any inconvenience to passengers, but Caltrain will alert riders as needed. As budget allows, the visual message system will be expanded to additional stations.