Two links to a very good article, plus a report from MTA regarding self evacuation on the subways.
The article and MTA report address the serious situation of passengers leaving the train during lengthy delays on the subway and the report offers helpful suggestions MTA can use to address self-evacuation, most addressing communication.
At first, I was going to make my own suggestion regarding self-evacuations, however MTA addressed them. I've have ridden the subway since I was a young child and communication has always been an issue. From the days of riding trains with no air-conditioning or heat to the days where we hear automated announcements there have always been problems with communications.
According to the report, the conductor is responsible with communicating with the passengers and the train operator takes on that task when the conductor is unable. That can prove difficult when there is an emergency, like a derailment, and the train personnel is assisting in different cars. The report, though suggests making announcements along with instructions to passenger to stay inside the train, as leaving can cause electrocution or for a passenger to get hit by a moving train.
While I can understand communication problems occurring in times of an emergency on the train, I can't when the delay stems from other trains. I've been stuck behind other trains in between stations and heard one or two announcements from train personnel. Meanwhile, we are stuck for about twenty minutes. It would have been helpful if announcements had been made informing us of what is happening as well as one telling passengers to remain calm and inside the train.
I've been on trains where I don't hear or they don't make routine announcements. The newer subways have automated announcements, but there is room for train personnel to interrupt and say something. On occasion I have heard an announcement about to be made, then nothing.
Self evacuation is in part about a lack of trust. If the conductor or train operator don't keep me up to speed, I even look to bolt. I've never done that before, but I have thought about it and not hearing an announcement leads me to want to consider it. In fact, I won't ride any train that won't allow me to leave if necessary (I refuse to ride the R-46 or R-68 trains because their doors lock and I can't move from car to car).
By the way, on the night of May 24, I needed to take the 1 local train northbound at 14th Street. It was close to midnight. A number 3 express train pulled into the station on the local track. One quick announcement that I could not even hear was made. The doors closed and the train left. I didn't take that train for fear that it was making express stops and I would miss my stop. But, this is an example of what I was saying. MTA personnel do not like making announcements. The conductor was supposed to announce the train and if it was making all stops or express stops, since the train was not on the regular track.
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