After several months of the big, black screens being blank, the passenger information messaging system (PIMS) was officially launched in early September, 2000. Testing began the month before. The big signs display info such as where the next train is going, when it will arrive, and other useful messages such as when to expect large crowds on the system, trackwork, delays, and rules and safety information. The signs are located one per side platform or 2 per island platform (one for each direction), often near the center of the platform. The middle track at National Airport and West Falls Church don't have one. They used to start the countdown to the next train about 7 minutes before it enters the station but now are able to track the train as soon as it leaves the terminal. It will display info for the next train to each destination. For example, it will count down to the next Glenmont train and next Silver Spring train.

The system isn't perfect. I've seen it say "RED LINE TO SILVER SPRING" when the train goes to Glenmont. I've never seen it say "ORANGE LINE TO NEW CARROLTON" when the next train is a blue line. It now also works where two lines converge, terminal stations, but still does not work when the next train is is layed up on a pocket track (i.e. Grosvenor towards Glenmont).

Pictures:

PIMS is working and not in testing! Silver Spring Station, September 17, 2000	Passenger Information Messaging System screen @ National Airport. This is the reading shown while the train is in a station. Taken while PIMS was in test mode on August 11, 2000.	Passenger Information Messaging System screen @ National Airport. This is the reading shown while the next train is on its way. The Blue Line train that will be arriving in 3 minutes was probably at either Pentagon or Pentagon City at the time I took the picture. PIMS counts down to the trains arrival. Once the train is just outside of the station, it reads Blue Line to Franconia-Springfield arriving. It finally will switch to the reading shown in dcsta74.jpg. Taken while PIMS was in test mode on August 11, 2000.
PIMS @ Friendship Heights, counting down to a Glenmont bound train. The setup of this unit is used at most island platforms. November 18, 2000.	PIMS reminds passengers of Metro courtesy. Friendship Heights, November 18, 2000.	A most useless message. PIMS displays this message once the train is 2 minutes away or less. PIMS has since been reprogrammed to display "2 MINUTES" instead of "APPROACHING". June 27, 2001.
This message was displayed after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.	A very strange display at Arlington Cemetery. Before the display said this, it kept alternating between 3 minutes and arriving. Photo taken March 10, 2004.	Mini-PIMS at Arlington Cemetery's elevator enterance.
PIMS now displays a countdown at terminal stations until the train leaves but shows it on both tracks, not only the track from which the train will actually depart.	For some reason, part of the word "yellow" is being shown in red. Some displays do some very wacky things, such as the one at Eisenhower Avenue.	PIMS at Archives on Independence Day, 2005
PIMS at Friendship Heights, due to trackwork, trains are terminating at Brookland, 2006

Interactive:

Watch a countdown of the PIMS at Metro Center. You need a JavaScript enabled browser to do this.

Watch a movie of the PIMS (4.6 MB)

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