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Automated Announcements
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159jim
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Sound files of different words the say and chimes.
On the topic of the actual thread though, I can see myself sending off a few emails about this new system we're getting on the GN... As much as Phil annoys me with his "unattended items" announcements, he's much better than Anne!
Aictos
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I've yet to hear this new system in action as the stations I normally use still have Phil 
Still, as annoying as it might seem I think it is the correct decision in the long run as the same system would be used on both routes instead of two different systems which means lower maintainace costs as only one type of system needs to be maintained.
There are quite a number of announcements which could be used day to day but don't for unknown reasons.
Still, as annoying as it might seem I think it is the correct decision in the long run as the same system would be used on both routes instead of two different systems which means lower maintainace costs as only one type of system needs to be maintained.
There are quite a number of announcements which could be used day to day but don't for unknown reasons.
thefab444
Established Member
What is quite strange about the ex-WAGN Ditra system is that stations tend to only use one voice regardless of how many announcement zones there are. Also, virtually all stations use Phil, I can't think of many that use Celia; Finsbury Park, Waterbeach. This rather defies the whole point of zones!
I wish they'd swap the voices down here a bit more often though.
I wish they'd swap the voices down here a bit more often though.
Aictos
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I think Stevenage uses both Celia and Phil as when annoucements are being played on both the up and down platforms, there are two voices used.
Still, I like these tools
Still, I like these tools
Finsbury Park used Phil for King's Cross bound trains and Celia (I presume) for country bound trains.
Now it's the same voice (Celia) for both. It's been like that for a year or two at least. Not sure why? Surely it's a simple option in a settings page somewhere.
Is the new system actually going to be solely pre-recorded announcements or a more modern system that actually allows text-to-speech, allowing more detailed explanations of things where necessary (i.e. when things go tits up on the ECML after someone farts and the power lines fall down).
Now it's the same voice (Celia) for both. It's been like that for a year or two at least. Not sure why? Surely it's a simple option in a settings page somewhere.
Is the new system actually going to be solely pre-recorded announcements or a more modern system that actually allows text-to-speech, allowing more detailed explanations of things where necessary (i.e. when things go tits up on the ECML after someone farts and the power lines fall down).
Jordy
Established Member
The new system cannot do TTS as far as I know. Stevenage is all Phil, I think it changed at the same time Finsbury Park became all Celia
Hehe
Whenever I hear the automated "Can we have your attention please....", I usually mutter "No" under my breath....
Is my memory serving me correctly, was there a security announcement saying any luggage left unattended "may be taken or destroyed" ?
I hope the system can be upgraded for TTS as it would be stupid, in 2010, to buy a new system that isn't capable of this.
Given how good the speech can be (I'll accept, not all of them are this good yet), it makes so much more sense than having someone recording every single word and phrase, with the obvious changes in pitch and tone when you insert new words later!
Given how good the speech can be (I'll accept, not all of them are this good yet), it makes so much more sense than having someone recording every single word and phrase, with the obvious changes in pitch and tone when you insert new words later!
I'm at a loss as to why you would want TTS announcements. Fair enough it can say absolutely anything but why somebody would want that, over professional pre-recorded announcements is beyond me. (Not that ATOS pre-recorded announcements are professional of course).
Besides I quite like the 'Liverpool South Parkway' effect of newly added clips!
Besides I quite like the 'Liverpool South Parkway' effect of newly added clips!
thefab444
Established Member
Getting the intonation and pronunciation right would take a lot of time, and money, using a purpose built TTS engine. As the help points which use Acapela Box (one of the best TTS engines out there) demonstrate, the technology is far from perfect.
Personally I think we should stick to pre-recorded announcements. The Ditra archive in particular has professionally recorded phrases for practically every announcement you possibly want, from asking for the owner of a particular car to move their vehicle causing an obstruction, to telling passengers about the status of the station lighting, and informing passengers about forthcoming engineering works. The fact that these announcements are so seldom used is a real shame though.
Personally I think we should stick to pre-recorded announcements. The Ditra archive in particular has professionally recorded phrases for practically every announcement you possibly want, from asking for the owner of a particular car to move their vehicle causing an obstruction, to telling passengers about the status of the station lighting, and informing passengers about forthcoming engineering works. The fact that these announcements are so seldom used is a real shame though.
Aictos
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The reason why these announcements aren't used as much as they could be is down to management, personally I can think of a dozen announcements which would be helpful on FCC services but probably won't be used.
Jordy
Established Member
Apparently it can be taken and destroyed by the BTP, although how it could be destroyed I have no idea. Probably one of those robots that diffuse bombs.
You can combine them though. No harm in having pre-recorded stuff for the regular things, especially platform numbers, how many carriages etc.
But the TTS allows you to avoid having to do any manual announcements at all when there's disruption - which lets people get on with other things. It also makes it easy to keep repeating said announcements at intervals that nobody would want to do manually.
In some places unattended items may be destroyed, in others they'll simply be removed. Not sure where to!
And it isn't BTP that I hear, but 'security forces' which makes me imagine some sort of SWAT team will come in and deal with it, before then thinking of it being more like some member of staff just prodding it with a stick.
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thefab444
Established Member
But the TTS allows you to avoid having to do any manual announcements at all when there's disruption - which lets people get on with other things. It also makes it easy to keep repeating said announcements at intervals that nobody would want to do manually.
This can already be done; the operator can record a message and then set it to play at the required interval at selected stations, or at all stations. SWT regularly do this from their Wimbledon Control Centre which is responsible for the CIS across the SWT network.
I think that's why they stopped wording it like that
It's a less worrying "...may be confiscated by British Transport Police..." or something like that. "....and may be destroyed" probably didn't meet KPI requirements for satisfied customers having a pleasant journey...'removed without warning' is also rather unlikely, as I'm told regularly on the GN line, given that a suspect package probably shouldn't be touched - let alone taken off a platform and put in lost property!
I think the recording, which must be changing when we get the new system, was made at a time when we didn't have to worry about bombs - but then I think of the IRA and wonder when that time might have been! Surely this announcement was AFTER this?
I think the recording, which must be changing when we get the new system, was made at a time when we didn't have to worry about bombs - but then I think of the IRA and wonder when that time might have been! Surely this announcement was AFTER this?
Aaah yes, "removed without warning", that's the usual one these days, isn't it?
They powers that be may need to reword the no smoking announcement. There's something a bit....Orwellian about "Smoking is illegal at this station. This includes platforms, waiting rooms, car parks, little patches of grass you think are safe but are monitored by our Suited Station Guards Of Good Behaviour, the café over the road, your car......."
'Smoking is illegal at this station. However, nobody is going to do anything to you, and you'll be just fine if you walk to the end of the platform and smoke there. We will know what you're doing but will pretend not to.' would be more appropriate.
asylumxl
Established Member
i don't know how recent this is, but Luton now has a woman doing announcements. I can't remember despite using it often if it was a different voice but I've been told it was Phil.
thefab444
Established Member
South West Trains proudly introduce their new Waterloo - Ashurst NF (via Shawford) service.
Copyright, as ever, remains with Ditra Systems.
Copyright, as ever, remains with Ditra Systems.
The GN stations have been using the announcement again about it being illegal to ride you bike etc on the station. (it uses the word illegal twice in the same sentence!) Heard it twice this morning immediately after the one about not leaving bags unattended.
I suppose when we get the new system, we will be told about taking care due to inclement weather nearly every day ? (It was saying this at Kings Cross last week when it was sunny!!)
I suppose when we get the new system, we will be told about taking care due to inclement weather nearly every day ? (It was saying this at Kings Cross last week when it was sunny!!)
I heard the 'illegal to ride bicycles, skateboards or use rollerblades... it's dangerous and is illegal' announcement yesterday and haven't heard this for years.
At some stations, which are monitored, announcements can be triggered manually when someone is seen cycling or smoking. At Stevenage, I've heard manual announcements made when people block the stairs to sit down. It's funny when the announcement is made over and over, right down to the 'yes, you' as it finally dawns on people that this announcement is somewhat targeted!
(Wouldn't it be cool to have Phil saying "May I have your attention please! Would the man in the [red] [shirt] and [blue] [jeans] sitting at the bottom of the stairs please move as you are blocking the exit"!)
At Finsbury Park, they do nothing even though people do smoke at the platform ends, while at Hatfield people cycle along the platforms all the time - so maybe it's good to bring that announcement back. The ones who cycle at speed around people, and cross the yellow line on the down fast line are complete idiots - and I feel for the poor driver that may one day find one falling off the platform in front of them. But, would such an announcement stop these people? They'd just laugh and feel proud of the fact that they're breaking the law.
At some stations, which are monitored, announcements can be triggered manually when someone is seen cycling or smoking. At Stevenage, I've heard manual announcements made when people block the stairs to sit down. It's funny when the announcement is made over and over, right down to the 'yes, you' as it finally dawns on people that this announcement is somewhat targeted!
(Wouldn't it be cool to have Phil saying "May I have your attention please! Would the man in the [red] [shirt] and [blue] [jeans] sitting at the bottom of the stairs please move as you are blocking the exit"!)
At Finsbury Park, they do nothing even though people do smoke at the platform ends, while at Hatfield people cycle along the platforms all the time - so maybe it's good to bring that announcement back. The ones who cycle at speed around people, and cross the yellow line on the down fast line are complete idiots - and I feel for the poor driver that may one day find one falling off the platform in front of them. But, would such an announcement stop these people? They'd just laugh and feel proud of the fact that they're breaking the law.
dan_atki
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Hearing it one Boxing Day on a very empty station, manually triggered when someone was riding their bike was somewhat funny. The instant reaction was the culprit yelling 'WE'RE NOT' across to the supervisor's office where the announcement system was based.
He probably can! Saying that, there is an announcement for blocking stairways which I heard in the dying days of FCC-TL Ditra: 'Please do not obstruct the stairways on the station, this can be dangerous for other users'. Whether this exists on the newer version of Ditra is yet to be seen, but I'd assume it is - just buried deep in some menu.
Phil also warned of an approaching freight train once rather than the generic stand away which was somewhat different - 'Stand clear of the edge of platform 4, freight train approaching'. Sometimes this was also the wording of fast train announcements too, with 'freight' replaced by 'fast'.
The Ditra smoking announcment is one of the funnier ones, with Phil referring to cigars and pipes like they are the norm. I suspect the wording hasn't changed over the years as different people have recorded the script.
I'm still waiting to hear Celia telling me not to feed the pigeons on the station, mainly for the comic effect of it.
sprinterguy
Veteran Member
There has been an updated one, where Phil states "Please extinguish all smoking materials immediately", which is more of a general catch-all announcement for smoking. The "cigars and pipes" part of the older announcement amuses me too when I hear it, as if they are commonly smoked on railway stations haha.
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