caltrain.jpgCaltrain riders will get a glimpse of the future this week when testing begins on a new system to predict arrival and departure times.

The first round of testing on the new system will take place Monday July 9 through Friday July 13 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to Caltrain spokeswoman Christine Dunn.

The system will include both visual messages at stations and audio announcements. Messages will begin with “This is a test” during the testing period.

Further tests will take place in August and September this year.

Stations including 22nd Street, South San Francisco, Broadway, Atherton, Stanford and College Park have public address systems but not visual signs. Stations south of Tamien in San Jose do not have either visual or audio messaging systems.

Once the system is installed, real-time arrival time information will also be available on Caltrain’s web site, and via free email alerts and SMS text messages.

The system is expected to go live by the end of the year, Dunn said.

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