Odd announcement on Virgin Trains

[katielouise11]

Hi everyone, apologies for the random post, but this is really bugging me! I was on the Virgin service from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston this morning, and as we pulled into Stockport, an automated announcement played. I can't remember the exact surname used, but it said something like 'Can Mr Smith come to the Shop, please' . Does anyone have any idea what this means? I meant to Google it at the time, and completely forgot!

 

[185143]

Was it Mr/Inspector Sands?

 

[katielouise11]

Was it Mr/Inspector Sands?

I'm not sure - it was definitely Mr something, but Sands doesn't ring much of a bell!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Perhaps it’s a euphemism for someone caught pilfering?

 

[Mag_seven]

What happens if there actually is a Mr Smith on the train?

 

[SPADTrap]

What happens if there actually is a Mr Smith on the train?

He appears at the shop mildly confused

 

[Westcoast-ting]

On the 390 I think the shop panic alarm plays the ‘mr sidmouth’ announcement through the train

 

[Andyh82]

I know stuff like this is supposed to avoid panic, but considering named members of the public or named inspectors are never called for normally, the announcements stand out like a sore thumb.

Surely something like ‘Could a member of the onboard crew please [insert coded but plausible scenario]’ be used instead.

 

[tsr]

I know stuff like this is supposed to avoid panic, but considering named members of the public or named inspectors are never called for normally, the announcements stand out like a sore thumb.

Funnily enough, I did once get a named staff call over the PA system of an extremely busy train and the passengers were very surprised to see it actually did result in something, when a large amount of hi vis barged down the aisle at a rate of knots! (I could tell by the tone of voice that my colleague was taking the mickey slightly, but I couldn't just ignore the opportunity!).

However, depending on organisation / procedure, I've heard a few different code names announced, not just Inspector Sands.

I think there was something on this forum about wording such as "Would the something-or-other superintendent go to the carriage sheds immediately" at Cardiff Central, which I thought was really quite good, as it's the sort of "cases and parcels" type of announcement which many people immediately ignore.

 

[6Gman]

Perhaps a Mr Smith had left his credit card in the machine ...

 

[TUC]

Another somewhat odd anouncememt yesterday at Southsmpton. Althpugh it was made twice I still couldn't fully hear it but it sounded like the 1615 to London Waterloo had been cancelled due to passengers changing trains. What could that mean?

 

[whhistle]

Perhaps a Mr Smith had left his credit card in the machine ...

With an automated announcement?

Wonder what would happen if the announcement just said "can the TM please come to the shop", or even "can the TM please come to the shop as someone is stealing".

 

[CentralTrainer]

We had the Inspector Sands message at Kings Cross Tube Station a couple of Saturday nights ago.

Ended up having to evacuate as the Fire Brigade turned up.

 

[stuart]

Another somewhat odd anouncememt yesterday at Southsmpton. Althpugh it was made twice I still couldn't fully hear it but it sounded like the 1615 to London Waterloo had been cancelled due to passengers changing trains. What could that mean?

I think this a euphemism for a train being held to allow a connection to be made. How that then rippled through to a cancellation would depend on the consequences of the late running of the held train.

 

[jyte]

In many American hospitals 'Paging Doctor Strong to...' means there is an armed or agressively dangerous indivigual/indiviguals in that area. Fun fact....