London Victoria PA system

[talldave]

I made a very rare visit to the ticket office at London Victoria yesterday. Now I know there are posters proclaiming how wonderful the upgraded PA system is, but did anyone who planned this system actually think about the poor customer standing at the ticket office trying to hear what the person the other side of the glass is saying to them?

It's awful. There are 4 speakers fitted on columns firing directly at the ticket office - and they are loud, very loud. The PA system is droning on almost continuously and even when there isn't a train announcement being made there are copious patronising "nanny state" warnings to do this, do that, don't do this, etc.

I guess if I did twitter it would be easy to get my opinion to Network Rail, but it's hardly worth a long winded online form fill. However, if anyone from Network Rail reads this, please turn it down or, better still, remove the speakers firing at the ticket office - they're not needed!

 

[NorthernSpirit]

They were much effective when Phil Sayer were doing the announcements, the woman that replaced him isn't effective.

 

[Big Mac]

It's also noticeable how many of the inane announcements over the new PA system are made in Spanish.

I know the Gatwick Express service goes from there, but how can this annoyance possibly be justified?

How many Spaniards who can't understand English can there be on the concourse at any one time?

It seems just for the sake of it and serves no real purpose.

 

[physics34]

another thing thats actually got worse instead on improving. Its very poor. Too loud in many places.

 

[talldave]

So I've seen a Network Rail poster at Victoria asking how they can make things better. Sadly the quoted email of victoria.station@networkrail.co.uk bounces!

So Network Rail, two suggestions:

Fix your email
Turn the PA down!

Ps: All the foreign announcements and some English ones are clipping - unacceptable at such a key location.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Haven't been there for a while, does it still say 'please stand clear from the train at platform x, this train is ready to leave'?

It's as if it's warning about some jet train that's about to blast out the platform

 

[Jordy]

It only does that on the appropriate platform now, thankfully.

 

[louis97]

It's also noticeable how many of the inane announcements over the new PA system are made in Spanish.

When did you hear these?!

Last time I was at Victoria the PA was way quieter than it had ever been before! I presume the fact that the speakers are now spread out and there isn't just one big one at the front makes it seems louder in certain places.

 

[hassaanhc]

As someone who struggles to understand what is being said when it is noisy and/or there is echo, I prefer the loud volume. Until a few months ago it was very quiet, and I couldn't hear it at all unless standing right next to a speaker. These days it is better, was there as recently as Tuesday.
Same happened at Waterloo, when the volume was quieter (which was the case in October/November just gone) I struggled to hear the announcements, but these days they're louder again.

 

[talldave]

But at the ticket office it's just deafening and I'd rather hear what the assistant is saying.

The foreign announcements are still inaudible but have obviously been prepared on a system where the levels were too high, hence the clipping.

The comments relate to this week. Someone seems to think that clarity=loudness.

 

[Hophead]

It only does that on the appropriate platform now, thankfully.

And seems not to be played until the train has left the station

 

[talldave]

I 'phoned Network Rail yesterday and pointed out that the email their poster advertises for suggestions doesn't work and mentioned the problem with the PA firing at the ticket office.

 

[zdz]

And seems not to be played until the train has left the station

Not for the GatEx peak services.

The 17:32 for example departs, then up to a minute or more later, this announcement is made, totally pointless.

 

[wiltshirebloke]

Looks to be going the way of Waterloo ... Millions spent on a new PA system specifically designed and installed technically to reduce echo and get the volume level right, only for months later a decision made to drastically cut the number of announcements made per hour.