This DCist remembers the days when metrorail didn’t have electronic signs announcing when the next train was coming. In fact, it was only five years ago when the only sign that a train was coming was the flashing of the platform lights. But the signs are already showing their age and inadequacies. And WMATA is about to set out on the quest to help us improve our transit logistical planning.

The AP, via WJLA, reports that metrorail’s electronic signage will be getting sensors that will alert WMATA central command when announcement boards go dark. It’s a $200,000 upgrade. With that, messages on signs will eventually be reconfigured to show the next few trains that are scheduled to service a station, and not just the immediately coming train. (Very much like the London Underground.)

But we feel that as metrorail’s electronic signage is revamped, it at least be consistent in how it signs. A case in point …