What makes a good on train announcement?

[387star]

Talking here mainly about trains which do not yet have an automated PA

What makes the on board announcement good or exceptionally good in your view? what kind of information do you value hearing?

What could be done better?

 

[dcsprior]

One little thing I like is when the announcement includes what side the doors will open on.

The only place I've ever heard this on automated announcements is the Victoria Line on London Underground, but I've heard some East Coast guards include this in the manual announcements when approaching Kings Cross

 

[Kite159]

What the next station is, saying it at least twice, a couple minutes before the train is due in.

 

[feline1]

What could be done better?

The most ludicrous and infuriating thing is when a train goes stationary for no apparent reason, and neither guard nor driver bother to make any kind of announcement as to what's going on.
It's not uncommon on Southern and FCC trains on the Brighton mainline to hear not a sausage until you've been sat there for a quarter of an hour.

 

[hounddog]

Reading out the stopping points slowly enough for passengers to understand them, instead of running them all together in an unintelligible noise. Breathe occasionally.

 

[causton]

Avoiding using the word 'station stop' three or more times in one announcement, from my experience today! (At least the guy was clear I suppose)

 

[Qwerty133]

On departure from terminus and principle intermediate stations
Good morning and welcome on board the XX:XX TOC service to Z calling at A,B,C,D and due to arrive at Z at YY:YY. Safety information posters are located next to all exit doors, CCTV is operational and smoking not permitted on this train. First class can be found towards the front/centre/rear of the train, where an at seat service will be provided / with refreshments available to collect at the on board shop in coach C, and standard class in the remainder of the train. Refreshments are (not) available on board this service, in the form of a at seat trolley/buffet, which is making its way through the train/located in coach C. Wifi and Plug sockets are available on board today.
Stations B and D have short Platforms, so please make sure you are in the front E coaches for B and rear F coaches for D. XX:XX service to Z.
On departure from smaller stations
XX:XX service to Z, calling at A,B,C and D, due to arrive into Z at YY:YY
On arrival to smaller stations
Good afternoon, we are approaching B, (please remember that only the front E coaches will be platformed at B (where necessary ))
On arrival at major stations, but not destination
Good afternoon, the train is now approaching C, please remember to take all personal belongings with you when leaving the train, also please have tickets ready for ticket inspections at this station. Change here for H,I and J, K,LandM and NandO. On departure from C this train will call at D and Z only. Thank you for travelling with TOC, we hope to see you again soon.
On arrival at destination
Good afternoon, we are now arriving at Z where this service terminates, I am pleased to report that we are arriving into Z on-time this afternoon. Please take all personal belongings with you, also please place any rubbish into the bins provided. Ticket barriers are in operation so please have your ticket ready, so as not to cause a blockage. Thank you for travelling with TOC. (if London: all underground lines running through this station currently have a good service). Once again this train terminates here, all change please.
when delayed
I am sorry for the delay to your journey this afternoon, this is due to P in the Q area, we are now expected to arrive at Z approximately R minutes late this afternoon. On behalf of TOC I apologise for any inconvenience caused. If this delay will cause your journey to be delayed by 30 minutes, please remember to claim delay repay, forms are available at all staffed stations on our network and you can also claim online at TOC.co.uk.

EDIT: this must be one of my longest posts, just shows how much hearing a number of incorrect announcements recently has annoyed me.

 

[High Dyke]

What the next station is, saying it at least twice, a couple minutes before the train is due in.

Some people still wouldn't be ready...

Reading out the stopping points slowly enough for passengers to understand them, instead of running them all together in an unintelligible noise. Breathe occasionally.

That is if the PA system is working correctly, and producing a suitable sound quality. That said yes announcing station in a steady understandable tone.

Avoiding using the word 'station stop' three or more times in one announcement, from my experience today! (At least the guy was clear I suppose)

Three or more times? Once is too much IMO. It is a station... "We are approaching X station...change here...etc" The use of calling point is also a stupid saying. What is wrong with: "The train calls at..." ?

Perhaps it is one of the few times that i actually welcome the programmed auto announcer on board a train. And that is saying something!

 

[causton]

Three or more times? Once is too much IMO. It is a station... "We are approaching X station...change here...etc" The use of calling point is also a stupid saying. What is wrong with: "The train calls at..." ?

Yes, I agree. The announcement was something like "The next station stop will be xxx, please mind the gap between the train and the platform at this station stop. If you are alighting at this station stop please make sure you take all your belongings with you... once again, the next station stop is xxx."

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Talking here mainly about trains which do not yet have an automated PA

What makes the on board announcement good or exceptionally good in your view? what kind of information do you value hearing?

What could be done better?

Based on previous discussion on here and briefings from management I have come up with the ultimate good announcement guide:

• Tell everybody everything they need to know
• Don't tell people what they already know
• Take your time
• Be brief
• Speak clearly
• Account for any speaker imperfections in the next carriage
• Be understanding
• Don't sound too patronising
• Mention timetabled connections at interchanges (even the really obscure ones)
• Be aware of any disruptions (even the minor ones)
• Don't get anything wrong
• Make sure people know what is going on
• Keep everyone informed
• Don't waste everyone's time with pointless announcements
• Don't repeat yourself
• Most importantly, remember that no matter how good your announcement is, someone else will think they can do better.

 

[Kite159]

Some people still wouldn't be ready...


That is if the PA system is working correctly, and producing a suitable sound quality. That said yes announcing station in a steady understandable tone.


Three or more times? Once is too much IMO. It is a station... "We are approaching X station...change here...etc" The use of calling point is also a stupid saying. What is wrong with: "The train calls at..." ?

Perhaps it is one of the few times that i actually welcome the programmed auto announcer on board a train. And that is saying something!

Or they are ready but fail to realise that they need to press the button to open the door as they don't open on their own

Some rather good announcements on ATW yesterday, I was looking forward for the guard to saying some of the station names

 

[Qwerty133]

One more thing to add, do not start every minor wwannoucement with 'this is your train manager speaking', except in an emergency, it makes you sound like you think your role puts you above everyone else you may as well start with 'I am important, listen to me'.
but then I'm just a passenger so what would I know...

 

[ASharpe]

I can tell you what I don't like:
"[jingle] aboard the 17 0[mumble] TOC departure to ... Leeds(?), calling at. "

I end up being slightly nervous I have got on the wrong train until they try again a few minutes later.

bonus points if they give two different final destinations (e.g. Leeds and Skipton/Bradford Forster Square) in the same announcement.

 

[bunnahabhain]

Depending upon the time of day arriving into a major station I give out connections, the side the doors will open on, and when I've got enough time and its a commuter train I'll read out the days weather forecast. It seems to go down well when I do it.

 

[button_boxer]

I always assumed the "station stop" thing was in case you get held at a signal or something - the "next stop" isn't necessarily in a station. But then why not just call it the "next station"...

 

[SamS]

Whenever I travel with Cross Country they usually make a good job with the announcements.
For example "In a few moments time this service will arrive at York, If you are leaving us here please take a good luck around and make sure you have all your personal belongings with you. That's York in a few moments time." Even better when they follow it with "I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for travelling with Cross Country."

In some places (such as Wakefield Westgate) making an additional announcement such as "Please note this is the HH:MM Cross Country Service to Plymouth, This is NOT the HH:MM East Coast service to London Kings Cross, customers awaiting this service, please return to the platform."

The occasional laugh also helps, a couple of weeks ago the train manager announced "In a few moments time it will be the Leeds stampede, try not to kill anyone!"

I always find the train managers make good announcements, but the Retail Service Managers generally struggle.

 

[thenorthern]

There is a bloke on East Midlands Trains who says the station names slightly slower which is comical which makes my journeys so much better.

 

[Muzer]

On departure from terminus and principle intermediate stations
Good morning and welcome on board the XX:XX TOC service to Z calling at A,B,C,D and due to arrive at Z at YY:YY. Safety information posters are located next to all exit doors, CCTV is operational and smoking not permitted on this train. First class can be found towards the front/centre/rear of the train, where an at seat service will be provided / with refreshments available to collect at the on board shop in coach C, and standard class in the remainder of the train. Refreshments are (not) available on board this service, in the form of a at seat trolley/buffet, which is making its way through the train/located in coach C. Wifi and Plug sockets are available on board today.
Stations B and D have short Platforms, so please make sure you are in the front E coaches for B and rear F coaches for D. XX:XX service to Z.
On departure from smaller stations
XX:XX service to Z, calling at A,B,C and D, due to arrive into Z at YY:YY
On arrival to smaller stations
Good afternoon, we are approaching B, (please remember that only the front E coaches will be platformed at B (where necessary ))
On arrival at major stations, but not destination
Good afternoon, the train is now approaching C, please remember to take all personal belongings with you when leaving the train, also please have tickets ready for ticket inspections at this station. Change here for H,I and J, K,LandM and NandO. On departure from C this train will call at D and Z only. Thank you for travelling with TOC, we hope to see you again soon.
On arrival at destination
Good afternoon, we are now arriving at Z where this service terminates, I am pleased to report that we are arriving into Z on-time this afternoon. Please take all personal belongings with you, also please place any rubbish into the bins provided. Ticket barriers are in operation so please have your ticket ready, so as not to cause a blockage. Thank you for travelling with TOC. (if London: all underground lines running through this station currently have a good service). Once again this train terminates here, all change please.
when delayed
I am sorry for the delay to your journey this afternoon, this is due to P in the Q area, we are now expected to arrive at Z approximately R minutes late this afternoon. On behalf of TOC I apologise for any inconvenience caused. If this delay will cause your journey to be delayed by 30 minutes, please remember to claim delay repay, forms are available at all staffed stations on our network and you can also claim online at TOC.co.uk.

EDIT: this must be one of my longest posts, just shows how much hearing a number of incorrect announcements recently has annoyed me.

This seems closest to what actually happens when you get a keen guard, but IMHO it's far too verbose. I especially don't like how far through the first announcement the "short platforms" one is (after all the rubbish about CCTV, refreshments, WiFi etc.)

 

[thebigcheese]

On a SWT service one night I had a guard make it very clear that the service was the last one of the night and how if we fell asleep he'd happily wake us up in Southampton. He then read through the station stops and the time we were arriving at each and a request for us to set our alarms - the 50 or so drunk people (including myself at that point!) were very thankful for such an announcement.

I think the key point is to know your audience - an announcement you make for the commuter rush as 8am should be different to the tourist traffic at midday IMO.

 

[rdeez]

I think some consistency would be nice. While each announcer has their own style and if we just had them robotically reading a script they might as well be automated, it'd be good if they could all get the same basic info in. Thinking about XC in particular I find quite a lot of variability - some read all of the stops, some simply state destination and next stop, some say first class is available in Coach X, others say Coach X at the front/rear of the train, etc...

 

[317666]

For commuter/stopping trains, a "We are now approaching..." announcement when approaching a station, and a "This train is for..." (NOT all the calling points) before departure. Anything else is too much.

For longer-distance trains, as above but instead with a more detailed announcement about the train's destination including where it's heading via being made after departure. In addition to the "We are now approaching...", connecting services including departure times and platform numbers should also be announced, as is common in countries such as the Netherlands or Germany.

 

[jon0844]

One little thing I like is when the announcement includes what side the doors will open on.

The only place I've ever heard this on automated announcements is the Victoria Line on London Underground, but I've heard some East Coast guards include this in the manual announcements when approaching Kings Cross

Some FCC drivers also say what platform the train will come in to King's Cross (and what side that is). Most don't, even though they will know because it's by the signal as they approach.

Fortunately, as soon as it's up on the signal then it's also possible to see it on RTT!

 

[Tibbs]

I always assumed the "station stop" thing was in case you get held at a signal or something - the "next stop" isn't necessarily in a station. But then why not just call it the "next station"...

Because the train may not stop at the next station...

Though I very much agree that something more elegant that 'station stop' should be used, it's just so clunky.

 

[387star]

For commuter/stopping trains, a "We are now approaching..." announcement when approaching a station, and a "This train is for..." (NOT all the calling points) before departure. Anything else is too much.

For longer-distance trains, as above but instead with a more detailed announcement about the train's destination including where it's heading via being made after departure. In addition to the "We are now approaching...", connecting services including departure times and platform numbers should also be announced, as is common in countries such as the Netherlands or Germany.

But often platform numbers are a mere guess

 

[fowler9]

Remind people it is a war zone out there. Make sure they are afraid when they get off the train. Apart from that just have a laugh.

 

[LUL]

To mind the gap between the train and the platform

 

[bronzeonion]

Clear, useful, polite, friendly sounding with as much useful information as possible included such as arrival times and which side the doors will be opening.

 

[johntea]

On a similar note, the catering announcements really wind me up (Particularly on East Coast!).

Just tell us when you're open and which coach you're in plus maybe if there is a trolley coming down or not, I'm sure we can already work out you will be serving a selection of hot and cold food, Yorkshire tea, beers wines and spirits! The first class passengers already know they get some freebies from you, no need to announce that to the whole of the train!

 

[Matt Taylor]

[*]Mention timetabled connections at interchanges (even the really obscure ones)

Please give an example of what you would announce if you were arriving at Clapham Junction at 1830 on a weekday evening, previous stop was Woking.

 

[Lufcman]

Wouldn't you rather the driver concentrate on the safe driving of the train than trying to rattle off all of above said info while having many other things to do?