Onboard Train Announcements - How Should they be?

[kevjs]

"Petersfield."
"Petersfield."

Please no, having a word or two before the key information helps you realise someone is talking and tune into what they are saying - if it's just one word by the time you've realised someone is saying something they've already finished "This train is now approaching Derby" or "This station is Derby" would be a lot more useful than "Derby" (or more likely "rby" when they've started speaking too quickly :roll. This is even more important when they are speaking in an unfamiliar accent.

 

[BestWestern]

I must admit to being surprised those systems don't use the UK standard of coach letters - but yes, they are a good idea. I hope LM installs i.

Letters are more difficult to make sense of, particularly if the train formation changes en route. If a train is five cars, numbered from 1 at the front, and it then attaches to five more with coach 1 becoming coach 6, most people can cope with that. Coach A becoming coach F is far less logical and would cause confusion. It's also a lot easier at short platforms to tell people they need to be in the front six coaches which are coaches 1 to 6, as opposed to quoting the alphabet at them.

 

[AlterEgo]

If they're your belongings they're personal to you. Why does no-one think that grammar is important anymore?
You're not "Your Conductor", you're the Conductor.
I won't, "take care while alighting the train" but I will take care whilst alighting from the train.
My train into Penzance this morning didn't terminate but the journey did and Penzance wasn't the final destination, it was the destination, it was where it was destined.

It's not language development, it's ignorance.

I've just discovered a thread where someone talks of, "expensing a ticket". I wonder if he/she is trying to say, "buying a ticket on expenses"?

Apart from the fact that a few of those are actually grammatically acceptable (you may be interested to know that "expensing" is a word!), does it really matter, if you can understand it?

Better suggestions would be the abolition of "alight", a somewhat pompous and arcane word, for "get off" or "leave", or standardising what a guard/conductor/TM is from the passenger's perspective.

 

[Phil.]

Apart from the fact that a few of those are actually grammatically acceptable (you may be interested to know that "expensing" is a word!), does it really matter, if you can understand it?

Better suggestions would be the abolition of "alight", a somewhat pompous and arcane word, for "get off" or "leave", or standardising what a guard/conductor/TM is from the passenger's perspective.

Yes it does matter. I wish people would realise that. Alight is not pompous or arcane, it is a word - an adjective - which describes the process of getting off (in this instance) a train.

 

[Muzer]

Yes it does matter. I wish people would realise that. Alight is not pompous or arcane, it is a word - an adjective - which describes the process of getting off (in this instance) a train.

It's not an adjective. It's a verb. If you're going to be a grammar Nazi, at least get it right.

 

[AlterEgo]

It's not an adjective. It's a verb. If you're going to be a grammar Nazi, at least get it right.

Hahahahaha. Served.

The purpose of language is to be understood - that's all.

 

[Via Bank]

Yes it does matter. I wish people would realise that. Alight is not pompous or arcane, it is a word - an adjective - which describes the process of getting off (in this instance) a train.

Alight as an adjective describes something that is on fire. I think you mean a verb.

But why use "alight", which isn't such a common word in conversational English, when you could say "exit," "get off," "get out" or "leave"?

 

[trainophile]

"Get off" has some dubious connotations these days. Besides which, it sounds ugly.

Leave would be fine, but I rather like alight, a throwback to the days when people took the trouble to speak nicely. (I know "nice" is a banned word, but it suits my purpose here!)

 

[Via Bank]

"Get off" has some dubious connotations these days. Besides which, it sounds ugly.

Leave would be fine, but I rather like alight, a throwback to the days when people took the trouble to speak nicely. (I know "nice" is a banned word, but it suits my purpose here!)

"Nice" is perfectly acceptable. By "banned word" I'm assuming you're talking about English teachers' nasty habit of increasing kids' vocabulary by telling them not to use words like "nice," "big," etc. This is bad enough in prose (fiction and non-fiction) since usually these words work just fine, and forcing people to use other words to "jazz it up" leads to what we call "purple prose."

The thing to always consider when writing or saying anything is your audience. When addressing passengers on a train, you cannot guarantee that your audience can speak English well (or at all), you cannot guarantee they are listening properly (or at all), and you cannot assume they will know anything about how trains work (especially true of first time passengers, children, foreign visitors etc.)

So, in this case, I'm inclined to say "forget the fact 'alight' is a nice throwback" if saying "leave," "get off the train" or "exit" will be clearer to people.

 

[Phil.]

It's not an adjective. It's a verb. If you're going to be a grammar Nazi, at least get it right.

An adjective is a describing word. I'm describing the act of leaving a train. Do keep up!

 

[AlterEgo]

An adjective is a describing word. I'm describing the act of leaving a train. Do keep up!

Surely this is a joke - "alight" is a verb in this context.

alight1
əˈlʌɪt/
verb

formal

descend from a train, bus, or other form of transport.
"visitors should alight at the Fort Road stop"
synonyms: get off, step off, get down; dismount, disembark, descend, exit; detrain, deplane; informalpile out
"he was the only passenger to alight from the train"

 

[lincolnshire]

Spot on so why on Virgin EC do we have to have a "welcome to the ......" by the guard and then "Welcome to the ......." by the catering people ? Once is enough. It is especially irritating when stops are close together

I will agree with the above, why can,t we also have reduced volume in the Quiet coaches, as there is nothing worse than your sat there in the quiet coach only to have a fog horn announcement that this sis the train to complete with station stops etc. Then we get back to quiet to be followed the catering department off only to add everything they have for sale might as well even include price as sometimes we have to so much detail all at fog horn volume.
What also ****es ( wet stuff ) me off is that we also have to rub it in those in First Class will get the complimentary refreshments from the menu on the table etc etc. Why can,t the First Class hosts simply go through the train and hand out the menu,s just like on the airlines, often on a lot of trains they not hard pressed as often the number in First Class is not full and standing how much does it take to look after a few passengers.

 

[KTHV]

I quite like the radio-presenter-style "bantering" in those - it works quite well. Takes the "conversational" approach of using two voices used on e.g. LU S-stock to the next level.
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Agreed. Those are worthless. Put them on a poster and forget about them.

If you were leaving luggage somewhere for nefarious purposes you wouldn't exactly pay attention.

I had a great one on a Cross Country between Birmingham and Sheffield. The very jovial Mancunian guard on board started by informing us we were on the "Big 'Un from Wigan".

Raised a smile somewhat...

 

[WestCoast]

The new Virgin WC automated ones aren't bad at all, two clear and friendly sounding voices (female for stopping patterns and male for safety-related announcements), well-spoken but not too posh, and straight to the point. Just a strange quirk of not announcing the final station as a calling point.

Aside from the that I love the Deutsche Bahn procedure of announcing connecting information at major interchanges (even automatically on some of the newest regional trains), it's very helpful.

 

[TheEscapist_]

Do trains in Europe have these annoying safety announcements and talk down to people by asking them to mind the gap and remember their belongings? I don't remember hearing any in Germany.


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[Loop Line]

I used to really hate the endless barrage of beeps on Virgin trains. Most of them were not even followed by an announcement. What were they for?

On another note, perhaps the railways should trial the pipe protocols followed aboard Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships.

'D'ye hear there? The train is now approaching Bootle New Strand. Vandalism threat warning yellow. Hands muster at action stations.'

Followed by a Klaxon.

 

[6Gman]

I do wish ATW would stop using "this train calls at the following principal stations" and then lists all station stops!

It doesn't make sense!

 

[PHILIPE]

I do wish ATW would stop using "this train calls at the following principal stations" and then lists all station stops!

It doesn't make sense!

All the way from Manchester to Milford Haven
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I quite like the conductors who, on approaching a fairly major interchange e.g. Shrewsbury or Crewe, will take the trouble to advise passengers which platforms they need for their connecting services. This genuinely helps, and saves hunting for a departures board when you perhaps only have a few minutes.

Other than that, just the next station and ultimate destination will do.

I can't stand the ATW recorded announcements by some simpering young lady who keeps asking us to dispose of our litter in the bins on the train and platform, and always ends with "thank you". For what? For listening?

The announcement is still made approaching Cardiff Central but there are no bins there.

 

[Via Bank]

I used to really hate the endless barrage of beeps on Virgin trains. Most of them were not even followed by an announcement. What were they for?

Train crew signalling, I believe. Different parterns for "TM contact Driver," "toilet alarm pulled," etc.

 

[BestWestern]

Train crew signalling, I believe. Different parterns for "TM contact Driver," "toilet alarm pulled," etc.

"Poo tanks approaching boiling point, vestibule F..."

 

[KTHV]

Do trains in Europe have these annoying safety announcements and talk down to people by asking them to mind the gap and remember their belongings? I don't remember hearing any in Germany.


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I don't remember hearing any on NSB (Norwegian State Rail) services.

 

[Parallel]

The announcement is still made approaching Cardiff Central but there are no bins there.

On the approach to Abergavenny, you usually get three different announcements narrated by three different people.

Ruth: The next stop is Abergavennyyyyyy.
Second older sounding woman: Passengers are advised there is a gap between the train and the platform.
Third younger woman: Please dispose of litter in the bins provided on trains and at stations. Thank you!

Interestingly, the third lady's voice follows the tweaked Ruth safety announcement on GWR's 150243, making an additional security announcement. Not sure why this is the only GWR 150/2 to have this set up.

 

[HowardGWR]

I do want 'Ladies and gentlemen' at the front of guard's announcements. It is de rigeur on the mainland and I was so pleased when it was used by my GWR guard on a Bristol to Weymouth recently.

 

[anti-pacer]

A couple of people against bin announcements. Why?

I would welcome them, especially on Northern Rail. In fact I've suggested this idea to them.

 

[trainophile]

A couple of people against bin announcements. Why?

I would welcome them, especially on Northern Rail. In fact I've suggested this idea to them.

Because people who tend to use bins don't need telling, and those who don't will ignore the announcement anyway.

 

[AlexNL]

Here in the Netherlands, we don't have any announcements about bins, where to find safety information (we don't have placards) or the smoking ban.

Around here announcements are usually "The next stop is X." and that's that. If an announcement is made about the train's route, it's usually in the form "this is the all station service to X, calling at <major hub 1, 2, 3>."

We do get warnings for pickpockets, slippery platforms due to the weather, reminders about your luggage and grandmother/children, if the train goes across a border announcements are also made in French/German and in English.

 

[theageofthetra]

I always use Ladies & Gentleman & only refer to them as passengers.

 

[westv]

"This train is on final approach". I thought only aircraft had final approach.

 

[TheEscapist_]

Here in the Netherlands, we don't have any announcements about bins, where to find safety information (we don't have placards) or the smoking ban.

Around here announcements are usually "The next stop is X." and that's that. If an announcement is made about the train's route, it's usually in the form "this is the all station service to X, calling at <major hub 1, 2, 3>."

We do get warnings for pickpockets, slippery platforms due to the weather, reminders about your luggage and grandmother/children, if the train goes across a border announcements are also made in French/German and in English.

The best way in my opinion! Safety announcements and just not needed but this country if so mad with health and safety.


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[Hellfire]

As a regular on Virgin WC I do get very annoyed with the lengthy announcements.

Do we need to be constantly told that First Class is at the rear/front and Standard class is at the front/rear? It seems pretty obvious which class you are sitting in.

People do not bother to get up and read the safety notices. In a crowded coach it would be mayhem if everyone did. Why bother telling them.

Then in FC you get someone reading out the list of items on the menu, even though said menu is on the table. Then Bert in the shop comes on to reel off a long list of what is available down to the details of the meal deals.

My pet hates are 'station stop' If it isn't stopping we don't need to know. 'arriving into' Just arriving will do.