What do those announcements mean on the Toronto subway where they say a number and station name?
Do you mean those random, really muffled ones that go something like “299 Kipling, 299 Kipling call transit control” …? The numbers are just ID codes for the various positions within the TTC’s operating system. And, the announcements are made to dispatch the people in those positions to wherever they’re needed at the time. I’ve heard “299…blah, blah…” quite often, which is the code used to get a line mechanic at whichever station. So “299 Kipling call transit control” asks for the line mechanic at Kipling station to call TTC’s Main Control. Some of the other numbers used frequently are… 122 = Subway Line Supervisor 299 = Subway Line Mechanic 310 = Streetcar Maintenence 506 = Station Janitor You can find a more comprehensive list here: http://transit.toronto.on.ca/subway/5007… And some interesting info here: http:
