Can you use cell phones on trains?

No. The phone disintegrates as soon as you enter the train, however, if you
happen to have a Maxwell Smart Shoe Phone, it may work.

---

› See More: Can you use cell phones on trains?

In article <[email protected]>,
Flatulant Dingo<[email protected]> wrote:

> On Mon, 26 Sep 2005, at 18:48:51 [GMT -0400] (08:48:51 Tuesday, 27 September
> 2005 where I live) "Robert Payne" wrote:
>
> > Can you use cell phones on a train?
>
> On the Hong Kong underground, sometimes you don't hear the train for all the
> noise coming from people speaking on their mobile phones, or the phones
> ringing.
>

Yah, the MTR in Hong Kong is very forward thinking and progressive by
allowing wireless access on its trains, allowing people the choice of
being connected!

The MRT in Singapore is the same as well.

It's all a matter of setting up repeaters in the stations, tunnels and
trains. Hong Kong's wireless providers charge (last I looked)
HK$10/month licensing fee for that access.

In the Tokyo subway, I believe their keitai work underground too. But
people there use their phones to text when they are on the train since
talking on the phone in the train would be considered rude.

And in an unrelated note, the new Tsukuba Express has wi-fi on its
trains and platforms...

In alt.cellular.cingular Mij Adyaw <[email protected]> wrote:
> No. The phone disintegrates as soon as you enter the train, however, if you
> happen to have a Maxwell Smart Shoe Phone, it may work.

But, as of a couple of days ago, Maxwell Smart will no longer be answering
the phone. http://www.wouldyoubelieve.com/

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

Robert Payne Wrote:
>
>
> Can you use cell phones on a train?
>
> Bob Payne

At the moment the 'Tube' (London Underground) is cell phone free as
it has not been wired. On all other UK trains phones can be used but
quite a few of the operating companies now have 'quite' coaches where
the use of cell phones is prohibited, some of want a bit of peace on
our rail journeys.


--
Ralph5407

On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 19:11:11 -0500, "Dan" <[email protected]> chose to
add this to the great equation of life, the universe, and everything:

>Galesburg is another story. T-Mobile and cingular end about 50 minutes
>before galesburg and resume about 15 minutes before you get there. Little
>gap in coverage. No gsm coverage. An occasional drift of Iowa Wireless and
>that's about it. I can't speak for Verizon W/U.S. Cellular/sprint or nextel
>though. Ive never had them.

IIRC, VZW is pretty solid all the way to Galesburg. Thanks for the report
on Cingular; just another reason for my friend to drop it and get on his
wife's VZW family plan (except she already has 5 lines on it...).

--
David Streeter, "an internet god" -- Dave Barry
http://home.att.net/~dwstreeter
Remove the naughty bit from my address to reply
Expect a train on ANY track at ANY time.
"It's a problem, but when the lights go on again people won't be there in
the dark." - 'President' George W. Bush on the northeast blackout,
8/14/2003

On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 22:02:52 -0400, Jeffrey Kaplan <[email protected]> chose
to add this to the great equation of life, the universe, and everything:

>I live about 50 feet from the tracks and 200 feet from a crossing.
>Additionally, Ford Motor Cars, Inc, has their regional distribution
>center about a thousand feet or so down the line (vehicles are brought
>in by train and then put onto the road-going car carriers). It's a
>pair of tracks, one is the regional commuter train line and the other
>is an active freight line used by everybody.
>
>The crossing is posted as "no horn" for the overnight, but there are
>two other crossings within a half-mile in either direction and at night
>those horns carry. And I do complain to the police dispatcher, as per
>the proper procedures, when the train jockeys ignore the "no horn"
>edict for this crossing.
>
>The noise is worse in the warmer months when I leave windows open.

If the engineer is blowing, it's probably because some idiot is driving
around the gates. You'd be amazed how often that happens. This summer, one
railroad and all the police agencies in one county in Texas did a one-day
enforcement blitz and ticketed over 90 people for crossing violations.

Anyway, you won't get much sleep if there are a bunch of sirens responding
to the wrecked car that didn't get out of the way because the engineer
obeyed the "no horn" order. (Blowing the horn at a crossing also happens to
be a federal law.)

Back to the original question, I have always done okay with my phone on
trains. If you have trouble, try getting up against a window.

--
David Streeter, "an internet god" -- Dave Barry
http://home.att.net/~dwstreeter
Remove the naughty bit from my address to reply
Expect a train on ANY track at ANY time.
"We don't use straws in combat, fella." - Cprl. Radar O'Reilly

Robert Payne wrote:

> Can you use cell phones on a train?
>


I suppose it's technically possible, even highly probable that cell
service is usable while on a train, unless someone has a cell jammer
buried in a backpack somewhere nearby. I would expect a cell jammer to
be used in the "quiet" car.


--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

David S wrote:
> On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 22:02:52 -0400, Jeffrey Kaplan <[email protected]> chose
> to add this to the great equation of life, the universe, and everything:
>
>
>>I live about 50 feet from the tracks and 200 feet from a crossing.
>>Additionally, Ford Motor Cars, Inc, has their regional distribution
>>center about a thousand feet or so down the line (vehicles are brought
>>in by train and then put onto the road-going car carriers). It's a
>>pair of tracks, one is the regional commuter train line and the other
>>is an active freight line used by everybody.
>>
>>The crossing is posted as "no horn" for the overnight, but there are
>>two other crossings within a half-mile in either direction and at night
>>those horns carry. And I do complain to the police dispatcher, as per
>>the proper procedures, when the train jockeys ignore the "no horn"
>>edict for this crossing.
>>
>>The noise is worse in the warmer months when I leave windows open.
>
>
> If the engineer is blowing, it's probably because some idiot is driving
> around the gates. You'd be amazed how often that happens. This summer, one
> railroad and all the police agencies in one county in Texas did a one-day
> enforcement blitz and ticketed over 90 people for crossing violations.
>
> Anyway, you won't get much sleep if there are a bunch of sirens responding
> to the wrecked car that didn't get out of the way because the engineer
> obeyed the "no horn" order. (Blowing the horn at a crossing also happens to
> be a federal law.)

That's a stupid law. Anyone arrogant enough to pull that stunt deserves
to be sliced and diced under Darwin's wheels. **** 'em. Leave the
whistle rope alone, and soon enough we'll all be better off.

>
> Back to the original question, I have always done okay with my phone on
> trains. If you have trouble, try getting up against a window.
>


--
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

It is alleged that David S claimed:

> >The crossing is posted as "no horn" for the overnight, but there are
> >two other crossings within a half-mile in either direction and at night
> >those horns carry. And I do complain to the police dispatcher, as per
> >the proper procedures, when the train jockeys ignore the "no horn"
> >edict for this crossing.
> >
> >The noise is worse in the warmer months when I leave windows open.
>
> If the engineer is blowing, it's probably because some idiot is driving
> around the gates. You'd be amazed how often that happens. This summer, one

No, they blow the horn at every crossing all the time, except for the
few that are posted as "no horn" during the overnight. This crossing
gets more train traffic than road traffic... the street is only paved
on this side of the track, the other side is a dirt road going up a
hill where there is only one house.

> railroad and all the police agencies in one county in Texas did a one-day
> enforcement blitz and ticketed over 90 people for crossing violations.

The only time people here go around any of the gates is when they're
obviously malfunctioning.

--
Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

"Everyone knows Minbari do not kill Minbari." "Then why are you here?"
"Perhaps everyone is wrong." (Kalain and Capt. Sheridan, B5 "Points of
Departure")

Verizon is most likely the best from what i hear down that way. I know
someone down there and they seem to think cingular, t-mobile and onelink
don't actually sell service there. Just for roaming.

If you look on compass.t-mobile.com and do an area map of gsm coverage for
t-mobile, you will see how it's pretty poor. Horrible gsm coverage of any
type in Abingdon. (south of galesburg, and where i usually stay.)


"David S" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 19:11:11 -0500, "Dan" <[email protected]> chose
> to
> add this to the great equation of life, the universe, and everything:
>
>>Galesburg is another story. T-Mobile and cingular end about 50 minutes
>>before galesburg and resume about 15 minutes before you get there. Little
>>gap in coverage. No gsm coverage. An occasional drift of Iowa Wireless and
>>that's about it. I can't speak for Verizon W/U.S. Cellular/sprint or
>>nextel
>>though. Ive never had them.
>
> IIRC, VZW is pretty solid all the way to Galesburg. Thanks for the report
> on Cingular; just another reason for my friend to drop it and get on his
> wife's VZW family plan (except she already has 5 lines on it...).
>
> --
> David Streeter, "an internet god" -- Dave Barry
> http://home.att.net/~dwstreeter
> Remove the naughty bit from my address to reply
> Expect a train on ANY track at ANY time.
> "It's a problem, but when the lights go on again people won't be there in
> the dark." - 'President' George W. Bush on the northeast blackout,
> 8/14/2003
>

In alt.cellular Jer <[email protected]> wrote:
> David S wrote:
>>
>> Anyway, you won't get much sleep if there are a bunch of sirens responding
>> to the wrecked car that didn't get out of the way because the engineer
>> obeyed the "no horn" order. (Blowing the horn at a crossing also happens to
>> be a federal law.)
>
> That's a stupid law. Anyone arrogant enough to pull that stunt deserves
> to be sliced and diced under Darwin's wheels. **** 'em. Leave the
> whistle rope alone, and soon enough we'll all be better off.

Unless the dumb-asses have already reproduced, which would be unfortunate.

brian
--
If you want to reply to this message by mail, you will
have to change the reply address to [email protected]

On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 18:29:26 -0500, Jer <[email protected]> wrote:
> David S wrote:
>> On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 22:02:52 -0400, Jeffrey Kaplan <[email protected]> chose
>> to add this to the great equation of life, the universe, and everything:
>>
>>
>>>I live about 50 feet from the tracks and 200 feet from a crossing.
>>>Additionally, Ford Motor Cars, Inc, has their regional distribution
>>>center about a thousand feet or so down the line (vehicles are brought
>>>in by train and then put onto the road-going car carriers). It's a
>>>pair of tracks, one is the regional commuter train line and the other
>>>is an active freight line used by everybody.
>>>
>>>The crossing is posted as "no horn" for the overnight, but there are
>>>two other crossings within a half-mile in either direction and at night
>>>those horns carry. And I do complain to the police dispatcher, as per
>>>the proper procedures, when the train jockeys ignore the "no horn"
>>>edict for this crossing.
>>>
>>>The noise is worse in the warmer months when I leave windows open.
>>
>>
>> If the engineer is blowing, it's probably because some idiot is driving
>> around the gates. You'd be amazed how often that happens. This summer, one
>> railroad and all the police agencies in one county in Texas did a one-day
>> enforcement blitz and ticketed over 90 people for crossing violations.
>>
>> Anyway, you won't get much sleep if there are a bunch of sirens responding
>> to the wrecked car that didn't get out of the way because the engineer
>> obeyed the "no horn" order. (Blowing the horn at a crossing also happens to
>> be a federal law.)
>
> That's a stupid law. Anyone arrogant enough to pull that stunt deserves
> to be sliced and diced under Darwin's wheels. **** 'em. Leave the
> whistle rope alone, and soon enough we'll all be better off.
>

Except for the times when the crossing gates malfunction, which
is frequently.

We had several deaths around here last year when the gates didn't
work, and the engineers didn't observe/weren't made aware of
the problem, and didn't blow their horns when approaching the crossing.

When a Conrail train meets a car, the train ALWAYS wins.

- Rich

On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 16:23:46 -0400, Isaiah Beard
<[email protected]> chose to add this to the great equation of
life, the universe, and everything:

>George wrote:
>
>> You would think that in the
>> year 2005 they could deploy a scanning system to determine if anybody or
>> anything were in the "box" surrounding the crossing and then inform the
>> train operator of the need to blow the 130 db horn.
>
>Not every railroad crossing in the US has so much as a lighted warning
>system. If the railroad companies can't manage that much, why would you
>expect anything more high tech?

Clue: it is not the railroads but the states that decide what level of
protection each crossing will have. It is also the states that pay for the
protection. And why not, since the railroads are being kind enough to allow
the public roads to cross their private property? (Yes, that IS the legal
standing of railroad crossings.)

One of the options being studied for reducing noise is to have fixed horns
at the crossing that are aimed down the road, relieving the homes to the
sides of the road of having to hear the horns from the trains.

--
David Streeter, "an internet god" -- Dave Barry
http://home.att.net/~dwstreeter
Remove the naughty bit from my address to reply
Expect a train on ANY track at ANY time.
"You have not experienced Shakespeare until you've read it in the original
Klingon." - General Chang

On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 18:29:26 -0500, Jer <[email protected]> chose to add
this to the great equation of life, the universe, and everything:

>> Anyway, you won't get much sleep if there are a bunch of sirens responding
>> to the wrecked car that didn't get out of the way because the engineer
>> obeyed the "no horn" order. (Blowing the horn at a crossing also happens to
>> be a federal law.)
>
>That's a stupid law. Anyone arrogant enough to pull that stunt deserves
>to be sliced and diced under Darwin's wheels. **** 'em. Leave the
>whistle rope alone, and soon enough we'll all be better off.

I don't entirely disagree with you on that, but if you're going to drop
that law, you also have to pass one that says that the families of people
thus killed can't sue the railroads for the deaths.

--
David Streeter, "an internet god" -- Dave Barry
http://home.att.net/~dwstreeter
Remove the naughty bit from my address to reply
Expect a train on ANY track at ANY time.
"Oh, you... you..." - Frank Burns
"Who you calling a you-you?" - Hawkeye Pierce

On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 06:22:19 -0500, "Donald Newcomb"
<[email protected]> chose to add this to the great equation of
life, the universe, and everything:

>Of course you can. Just go to Europe and see. In Japan they make you go to
>the end of the car to talk on the phone.

Most Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor have one "quiet car" per
train, originally started as an experiment by public demand.

In Chicago, Metra has so far resisted that demand.

--
David Streeter, "an internet god" -- Dave Barry
http://home.att.net/~dwstreeter
Remove the naughty bit from my address to reply
Expect a train on ANY track at ANY time.
"The fact that my internal arrangement differs from yours, Doctor, pleases
me no end." - Spock