Sheffield CIS (Departure Screens & PA)

[Qwerty133]

I went to Sheffield yesterday and spent the best part of an hour at the station while waiting for my train home. I had a good look at the new boards and they seem fine from a bit of a distance, but you can't see all of the boards if you stand close to them- only the boards in front of you can be seen clearly. It was a bit of a pain because my Mum went into Whistlestop to get a drink and I stood outside with my sister. I could barely see what was on the boards there even though I could see the boards themselves. They're great from a distance, but if you get too close you end up having to move to the left or right to find your train.

Another thing I noticed was the fact that about half an hours worth of trains were shown in detail, with more (probably another 30-45 minutes, can't remember now) being shown on the subsequent departures boards. Looking at the photo of the old boards, just over an hours worth was shown on them, including the calling points. The subsequent departures board doesn't show the calling points. Saying that, I think the new boards are clearer, showing each train and calling points, operator and additional details. For example, Manchester services were shown as "via Hope Valley" or "Express service via Stockport" which I thought was useful- this was even shown below the relevant service on the subsequent departures board. Did the old system do this?

I also have a couple of questions about the displays on the platforms:

The departure boards, located on platforms 3,5, 6 and 8, seemed to have a fault. On the bottom line of the board it says "Time now", but the actual time to the right of this was covered over in black tape. I noticed this on the board on platform 5 when looking south (didn't check the other side) and both sides of the board on platform 3. I didn't go over to 6 and 8, but I'm guessing they're the same. It's no big deal as all the platform specific displays have clocks, but it looks bad when they aren't working properly. Does anyone know what's up with them?

Are there any arrivals boards in Sheffield? I wanted them in Nottingham when I went to meet my flatmates (another one was arriving by train) but couldn't find any so resorted to my phone. I did find an arrivals board later, right over on platform 7. I've never seen one at Sheffield, so does one exist? Given the interchange that Sheffield is, it would be useful for people who are meeting someone off a train, especially those that terminate, although normally all services are shown.

Probably no arrivals board and if there is it'll be difficult to find, EMT don't seem to like them.

 

[button_boxer]

There is (or at least was last time I checked) an arrivals board next to the M&S food, by the entrance from the pick-up/drop-off area and taxi rank.

 

[ryan125hst]

Probably no arrivals board and if there is it'll be difficult to find, EMT don't seem to like them.

It's strange they don't like them as they can be very useful if you're waiting for someone who is arriving on a terminating train.

There is (or at least was last time I checked) an arrivals board next to the M&S food, by the entrance from the pick-up/drop-off area and taxi rank.

I've never been up that end of the station before, which explains why I've never seen it! I've passed through and changed trains at Sheffield several times, have used the tram entrance one, and have gone from the footbridge straight out the front on a few occasions. I've never ventured over to the taxi rank side of the station (in fact, I didn't even know it existed and had to have a look on Station's Made Easy!)

 

[satisnek]

Hello folks, first-timer here!

This is where my dual interests of railways and vintage audio meet....

A recent visit to Sheffield station revealed that the temporary lash-up dating from the mid-noughties station refurb (because the budget didn't extend to the platform speakers, I was told at the time) has finally been replaced by a shiny new speaker system.

But what happened to the old kit? Some of the speakers, notably those at the southern end of Platform 5, appeared to be really ancient units presumably dating back to steam days and probably the last remaining examples, so it would be a shame if they have been simply thrown in a skip.

 

[ryan125hst]

Hello folks, first-timer here!

This is where my dual interests of railways and vintage audio meet....

A recent visit to Sheffield station revealed that the temporary lash-up dating from the mid-noughties station refurb (because the budget didn't extend to the platform speakers, I was told at the time) has finally been replaced by a shiny new speaker system.

But what happened to the old kit? Some of the speakers, notably those at the southern end of Platform 5, appeared to be really ancient units presumably dating back to steam days and probably the last remaining examples, so it would be a shame if they have been simply thrown in a skip.

Welcome to the forum!

I can't help you with your question, but have you got any photos of the old speakers and their replacements?

 

[satisnek]

Welcome to the forum!

I can't help you with your question, but have you got any photos of the old speakers and their replacements?

Many thanks!

Haven't got any photos of Sheffield myself, but the 'really ancient' speakers looked like those seen attached to the support columns in this view of Manchester Exchange:

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/m/manchester_exchange/index18.shtml

 

[Andy-mc]

The whole system for EMT is being upgraded to incorporate the national Darwin system which will help give more accurate information,
most of the old equipment probably wasn't compatible which is why all stations have seen upgrades (or downgrades as i preferred the old massive scrolling boards at Leicester) i believe it officially goes live today

But what happened to the old kit? Some of the speakers, notably those at the southern end of Platform 5, appeared to be really ancient units presumably dating back to steam days and probably the last remaining examples, so it would be a shame if they have been simply thrown in a skip.

I believe most old equipment gets left where it is to rot or it does indeed find itself on the scrap heap and any recyclable parts stripped off

 

[Hyphen]

The whole system for EMT is being upgraded to incorporate the national Darwin system which will help give more accurate information

Many thanks - you've managed to pre-empt a question I was going to ask!

I was going to ask if the upgrades which had taken place at Sheffield had included an ability for the CIS to show running information from the wider world. When I used the station regularly a few years ago it did seem as though it couldn't 'see' trains until they'd passed into the station area, displaying trains as on time unless it was manually entered.

Always annoyed me that an XC could be running say 12 minutes late past Meadowhall, but the boards were adamant it was on time.

 

[Andy-mc]

Yeah it's a whole integration along stations, internet and staff information so passengers with smart phone apps will no just as much as the staff (apart from the reasons which digital Doris will probably shout up)
Should also help with planning journeys, as any late running connections will be taken into consideration when making a journey plan
Also trains running down somewhere late, will be reflected on the train it forms on the way back up
This is all the theory anyway, a few TOC's have had this in operation for a while now, but the more TOC's that integrate with it the more accurate it becomes

 

[louis97]

most of the old equipment probably wasn't compatible which is why all stations have seen upgrades

It wasn't that the old equipment wasn't compatible as it is exactly the same system but with a slight upgrade - EMT have over the past year been improving Customer Information, as this was a franchise commitment, many stations have received new screens and also speakers to bring stations up to the new standard of ensuring the PA can be heard everywhere on each platform.

(apart from the reasons which digital Doris will probably shout up)

Many reasons have also been re-recorded to bring each system using Anne in line with each other. Although that can't promise the reason used to describe the reason will be correct of course. "Congestion caused by earlier delays" is what annoys me. (Thats on FGW though, EMT rarely use any delay reasons.)

 

[Andy-mc]

Many reasons have also been re-recorded to bring each system using Anne in line with each other. Although that can't promise the reason used to describe the reason will be correct of course. "Congestion caused by earlier delays" is what annoys me. (Thats on FGW though, EMT rarely use any delay reasons.)

She's called Doris where I'm from, weather this has changed or not people I know still call her Doris
she does give reasons on delays over 5mins (80% of the time) the most used one is "this is due to a signalling problem" but the best one I heard was "this is due to disruptive passengers" lol

 

[LowLevel]

It's still crap at dealing with out of course working and disruption, platform alterations locally and so on. Every time you get a fault with the train describers it announces trains after they've left while other trains are sat there etc. The technology isn't at the point where it's better than a human being yet.

 

[louis97]

She's called Doris where I'm from, weather this has changed or not people I know still call her Doris
she does give reasons on delays over 5mins (80% of the time) the most used one is "this is due to a signalling problem" but the best one I heard was "this is due to disruptive passengers" lol

Doris to the uninformed, Anne is her name and she is one of the directors of Atos Origin who make the system. It certainly sounds strange hearing her not doing an announcement

It's still crap at dealing with out of course working and disruption, platform alterations locally and so on. Every time you get a fault with the train describers it announces trains after they've left while other trains are sat there etc. The technology isn't at the point where it's better than a human being yet.

Certainly getting better though, this new system connected to Darwin will be able to predict platform alterations based on the route set by the signaller for any given train (although only in areas that this technology is available). In addition it will also be aware of what is possible after passing signals at junction, for example if a train changes lines and then can't change back again until after a number of stations, all the stations will have platform alterations for that train.

Overall though I don't think it will ever be possible to have a system that is better than a human, the systems may get better at deciding how to interpret data but never will be as good as a human putting in the information themselves - especially during failures and associated delays.

 

[talltim]

I noticed a new announcement about the Norwich trains splitting, obviously made up of segments that the system splices together, the word train was repeated, once at the end of one segment and the second at the beginning of the second!

 

[duffield]

Doris to the uninformed, Anne is her name and she is one of the directors of Atos Origin who make the system.

Just a couple of minor points: Atos Origin was renamed to just Atos a few years ago, and Anne is not a director of the company.

I won't give her actual job title as that might be internal company info, but the info I have given is implied by the webpage publicly available here:
http://atos.net/en-us/home/we-are/company-profile/board-of-directors.html

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Just a couple of minor points: Atos Origin was renamed to just Atos a few years ago, and Anne is not a director of the company.

I won't give her actual job title as that might be internal company info, but the info I have given is implied by the webpage publicly available here:
http://atos.net/en-us/home/we-are/company-profile/board-of-directors.html

She's also made her recording debut; she can be heard a few seconds into Claudia Brucken's cover of the Pet Shoy Boys' "King's Cross".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3el_WDJtOHM

 

[Andy-mc]

It's Doris

 

[hassaanhc]

She's called Doris where I'm from, weather this has changed or not people I know still call her Doris
she does give reasons on delays over 5mins (80% of the time) the most used one is "this is due to a signalling problem" but the best one I heard was "this is due to disruptive passengers" lol

My favourite was "shortage of available coaches" by SWT :P

"Ding ding ding ding. We are sorry to announce that the 1818 South West Trains service to London Waterloo via Richmond is delayed by approximately 12 minutes. This is due to a shortage of available coaches. We are sorry for the delay to your journey. "
(Basically train was 4 coaches instead of 10 and departed late as it was missing out some stops).

 

[edwin_m]

I always thought it was Sonia as in "Get Sonia nerves".

 

[ryan125hst]

Many thanks!

Haven't got any photos of Sheffield myself, but the 'really ancient' speakers looked like those seen attached to the support columns in this view of Manchester Exchange:

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/m/manchester_exchange/index18.shtml

I see what you mean if they were at Sheffield station in the 1950's as well. It amazes me how old railway infrastructure is sometimes!