Nice surprise on East Coast

[iguana]

Hi all

I'm new to this forum, and have been gleefully reading through all the many posts about the various automatic electro-nanny voices we're supposed to be talked at by constantly for our own good (sorry, that's "for our Comfort, Safety and Security").

It's good to know that so many others hate them as much as I do - and (from the many rail workers posting here) that train staff don't enjoy having to read out a formula any more than I enjoy listening to it. Thanks to the knowledge here I've looked up TSI PRM and Transec, and can now write an informed email to my local TOC asking them to TURN THE THING DOWN.

So it's always a blessed relief when something like this happens:

The other week I was on an East Coast train from Edinburgh to York (train continued to London). Going across the King Edward bridge out of Newcastle, this voice came on the PA:

".... quiet coaches are coach B in standard, and coach K in First; that's coach B for Be Qui-et, coach K for Keep Qui-et. If you're travelling in one of these coaches, or in both of them at the same time, please do not use electronic equipment... " etc.

It really brings a smile to my face when someone tells you what you need to know but doesn't take it too seriously. What a relief from the condescending recorded nanny-voice, or the weary recitation of approved formulas by a human!

I've always liked those trains for the lack of po-faced announcements. Way back when they were GNER, I'd use them to commute from Edinburgh to Glasgow: the longer journey through Carstairs was worth it for the comfort and lack of stress.

If this announcement was YOU: keep it up! And I hope to God there's no company Regulation For Po-Faced Serious Importance that could get you into trouble.

 

[duesselmartin]

I remember crossing the Scottish boarder, the PA announced "welcome back to God's own country"

 

[northernchris]

I've seen more than one Tweet to Northern criticising the conductor for making humourous remarks, usually as it involves a derisory remark against a station. So it seems staff need to be careful what they say, although hopefully any complaints regarding such announcements are ignored by management as like the OP comments, they make a welcome change from the standard script

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I too appreciate the humorous comments sometimes made during announcements. I'm going back years now (I dread to think how long) but I was on a VXC service down to Southampton, and the guard announced 'We are now arriving at Basingstoke. Passengers who have never been depressed before should alight here'. It adds a human touch to what are generally long, boring and repetitive scripts. That's also why I prefer human announcements over automated ones.

They also needn't be humorous too - I was on a diverted Virgin Trains service via the S&C a couple of years ago and one of the staff members came on the PA firstly to remind us to enjoy the views, and then to talk to us about the Ribblehead Viaduct as we passed over it. A really nice touch and added to what was one of the best journeys I've had in years (a nice quiet train, really friendly staff and the sun setting over the lower Yorkshire Dales).

 

[furgus2]

I recall hearing a Virgin TM asking people to remove bags from seats so as to make room for standing passengers to sit down. He went on to say that if any passenger preferred their luggage to travel in that certain style and comfort of being on a seat, he would happily sell them a ticket for their luggage when he came through the train. Well, it made me smile at least!

 

[Goatboy]

It does annoy me when they say stupid things like 'do not use electronic devices'.

I like the quiet coach. But I also like using electronic devices. I make NO sound when using these devices. I am as silent as everyone else.

 

[455driver]

I hope to God there's no company Regulation For Po-Faced Serious Importance that could get you into trouble.

Unfortunately there are several rules about staying 'on script'!

 

[Be3G]

It does annoy me when they say stupid things like 'do not use electronic devices'.

I like the quiet coach. But I also like using electronic devices. I make NO sound when using these devices. I am as silent as everyone else.

To a certain extent I agree. I regularly sat in quiet coaches listening to music on an iPod, and felt slightly embarrassed to be doing so because of all the notices saying don't listen to music etc. – yet I wasn't actually making any noise. I even took my headphones out on a few occasions to make sure I couldn't hear anything ‘leaking’ from them. To be fair, I was never told off.

 

[leightonbd]

I remember crossing the Scottish boarder, the PA announced "welcome back to God's own country"

Southbound train?

 

[LWB]

Southbound train?

^ Nice.

 

[backontrack]

How about this the day after England's penalties loss against Italy in Euro 2012 (knocking them out), after both Ashley Cole and Ashley Young missed penalties?

"Good morning and welcome to this Southeastern service to Charing Cross, although as my name's Ashley, I might miss and end up in Liverpool Street."

 

[Saint66]

It's not quite the same, but on Friday I was on the 11:23 VT service from Euston and New Street, and the train manager just wandered through the coaches singing and just having a good laugh with all the passengers, it was very nice!

 

[Central Trains]

I remember hearing some great announcements from the guard on board a Greater Anglia service from Norwich to London. It really did brightened up the journey and made a lot of people giggle!

 

[tsr]

There is apparently a driver named Aiden - @metlinerocks on Twitter - who makes rather funny announcements on the Metropolitan Line. He announced that he was told not to do it after a complaint, only to find that his managers relaxed (presumably due to the many positive comments, including on social media) and he can now continue.

Alas, I have not had the benefit of riding one of his trains. However, there are other characters on the Tube - mainly platform staff, I find, though.

 

[PermitToTravel]

I'm going back years now (I dread to think how long) but I was on a VXC service down to Southampton, and

I thought you were 18?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I thought you were 18?

I am indeed. I meant along the lines of it was probably getting on for 6 or 7 years ago, and it's a bit scary just how quickly those years have passed!

 

[ainsworth74]

I've been struggling with the concept that 2009 was five years ago...

 

[YorkshireBear]

I've been struggling with the concept that 2009 was five years ago...

Yep!!! I am like just the other year 2007..... OH that appears to be now 7 years ago how old am i!
When it gets to 2030 it will be horrific. We will then be able to remember the last millennium.

 

[ainsworth74]

No doubt we look ridiculous to the more senior members of the forum bemoaning how long ago years like 2009 and 2007 are

 

[DaveNewcastle]

No doubt we look ridiculous to the more senior members of the forum bemoaning how long ago years like 2009 and 2007 are

You called?

 

[Howardh]

Yep!!! I am like just the other year 2007..... OH that appears to be now 7 years ago how old am i!
When it gets to 2030 it will be horrific. We will then be able to remember the last millennium.

Blummin' heck. When it get's to 2030 I won't be here (in all probability :cry. What's more worrying it could mean 2030 tomorrow evening

Anyhow - as for announcements on trains, love getting on a Virgin from Preston to the north and hearing a scottish lassie over the tannoy.

On the other hand, on TPE (yes, TPE again) the next station announcements are often out of sync. "The next station will be Burneside". No, it won't, we've just gone through there. Switch the tape off, there's a good chap.

 

[Parallel]

I do like cheery and comical announcements! Just before Christmas I was heading back from the Bath Christmas market and the guard announced through the tannoy "Avoncliff, in two stations time. Make sure you are at the very front of this three carriage train. That's in two stations time, we will be arriving at Freshford first where you can all get off if you want to!"

I do appreciate it when the guard or driver announces thorough information of connections at stations too!

Once I was on a stopping service and alighted at Bath, and upon approaching Bath, it was announced "change here for Avoncliff and Freshford"... Wait! We just called there!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Had a few in my time - once informed by an XC TM that if I'd boarded the 21:05 from Glasgow Central to Edinburgh with the intention of getting to Edinburgh quickly I was out of luck due to this train taking a long, boring and pointless diversion Via the Edinburgh sub! I guess this may have been both entertaining and heartbraking to normals but as it happened I was aware of the diversion as its booked to do it most weeknights. ↲


Another Scotrail guard told a 158 load of summer holidaymakers that the 17:47 arival at Thurso used to make a connection with a bus service to Scrabster and the ferry to Orkney up until around the last council election when the funding was cut so if taxies are required please contact him. And during the last world cup an East Coast Crew Leader reeled off a list of watering wholes showing the England Game on approach to KX↲

 

[class26]

Hi all

I'm new to this forum, and have been gleefully reading through all the many posts about the various automatic electro-nanny voices we're supposed to be talked at by constantly for our own good (sorry, that's "for our Comfort, Safety and Security").

It's good to know that so many others hate them as much as I do - and (from the many rail workers posting here) that train staff don't enjoy having to read out a formula any more than I enjoy listening to it. Thanks to the knowledge here I've looked up TSI PRM and Transec, and can now write an informed email to my local TOC asking them to TURN THE THING DOWN.

So it's always a blessed relief when something like this happens:

The other week I was on an East Coast train from Edinburgh to York (train continued to London). Going across the King Edward bridge out of Newcastle, this voice came on the PA:

".... quiet coaches are coach B in standard, and coach K in First; that's coach B for Be Qui-et, coach K for Keep Qui-et. If you're travelling in one of these coaches, or in both of them at the same time, please do not use electronic equipment... " etc.

It really brings a smile to my face when someone tells you what you need to know but doesn't take it too seriously. What a relief from the condescending recorded nanny-voice, or the weary recitation of approved formulas by a human!

I've always liked those trains for the lack of po-faced announcements. Way back when they were GNER, I'd use them to commute from Edinburgh to Glasgow: the longer journey through Carstairs was worth it for the comfort and lack of stress.

If this announcement was YOU: keep it up! And I hope to God there's no company Regulation For Po-Faced Serious Importance that could get you into trouble.

Recently I was on a Hull Trains service that arrived in London 7 minutes early, mainly due to getting a clear run from Grantham all the way in) and the guard annouced that we had arrived 7 mins early due to the driver having had an extra Weetabix for breakfast !

 

[londonbridge]

Related to the quiet coach, as per the OP, on my last East Coast trip I found a place in coach B, only to be confronted by a crying baby all the way from Kings X to York. Despite several looks of disaproval nobody was willing to take the lead and speak to the couple with said baby.

 

[Tetchytyke]

If it's any consolation, I'm sure the mother with the crying baby wasn't exactly thrilled either. Isn't life a bitch?

I notice you didn't go and confront her either. Maybe you should have done. Maybe you'd have got the same response someone who confronted me about my screaming baby (having been awake with her for 15 hours) did.

At least they weren't the massive group I had on a recent first class journey, shouting and cheering the whole way. The crew said they wouldn't do anything "as they've got anytime tickets and they're not on a phone". Charming!

 

[cf111]

Another Scotrail guard told a 158 load of summer holidaymakers that the 17:47 arival at Thurso used to make a connection with a bus service to Scrabster and the ferry to Orkney up until around the last council election when the funding was cut so if taxies are required please contact him. And during the last world cup an East Coast Crew Leader reeled off a list of watering wholes showing the England Game on approach to KX↲

One of the guards on this route is fond of reminding us all to "take your luggage, personal belongings and young children when leaving the train" when terminating .

 

[jon0844]

To a certain extent I agree. I regularly sat in quiet coaches listening to music on an iPod, and felt slightly embarrassed to be doing so because of all the notices saying don't listen to music etc. – yet I wasn't actually making any noise. I even took my headphones out on a few occasions to make sure I couldn't hear anything ‘leaking’ from them. To be fair, I was never told off.

I've got some decent non-leaking earphones (so I can have the volume lower at the same time and still enjoy the music or film I'm watching) but I am sure some people will be tutting because they're read/heard the notices and instantly think of me as some arrogant a...

It's so good that Apple now ship devices with pretty decent earphones, and I'm sure the tinny noise we've all had to endure is gradually becoming a thing of the past.

The announcements shouldn't be telling people not to use electronic items though - just anything that makes a noise, as well as asking people wanting to make a call to step out to the vestibule. And I'm pretty sure people can talk to each other still.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I sometimes book in a quiet zone, more so if my journey involves a voyager or Maridian as underfloor rumble plus a loud noizy something, (insert whatever you want here) distracts me from my 3 main longdistance pastimes namely working, reading an audio book (very quietly with good qualitty headphones) or sleaping. Odly however, making 1 whisky minature last silently from Crewe to Lockerbie is frouned upon by many though! Are social drinkers banned from these areas?↲

On topic I vaguely recall the late days of VXC MK2s and the announcements being quieter in quiet zones, unsure if deliberate but it was noticeable on trips I made. If it was deliberate, it went out with the stock - maybe just as well - quiet announcements plus QSK19 Roare equals overcarried punters!

 

[iguana]

Unfortunately there are several rules about staying 'on script'!

How depressing! I mean, why employ people to talk to passengers if you're going to make them spout standard lines like robots? (Which brings us back to the Robo-Nanny Voices....).

If I was in charge the script would be there to help new staff who might not be used to making public announcements (or as a fallback for any staff when they're having a bad day and don't feeling like talking to anyone!). Beyond that, give them a list of things to be covered and then leave it up to them.

The thread seems to have drifted over to the question of "electronic devices". TBH I can't even remember exactly what this particular announcement said about what you can and can't do in a quiet coach, I just put in "electronic devices" as shorthand.