Should the UK introduce a jingle across our railway network.

[busestrains]

In a lot of other countries in Mainland Europe they have well known jingles that always play for the automated announcements. These have become quite popular and well known. Everyone in these countries would know the sound. The SNCF one in France is probably one of the most well known ones. Russia has a well known one that has been used for years too. Hungary has four different ones to differentiate the train type. SBB CFF FFS has three different ones for the three different languages of the country. Other countries do too.

Back in the BR days and early privatisation we sort of did with the three chime and four chime jingles. But these have pretty much disappeared now. I guess it is difficult with lots of different operators but it should be possible to still play these. I think the Worldline system (which is what most TOCs use these days) can play jingles.

Should we introduce a jingle across the railway network? What does everyone think? What jingle would you suggest as the UK railway jingle? What would be the best one?

I have attached a couple that i like that i think would be good ones to use. These are quite nice ones.

 

[heathrowrail]

We do have one. It's the doorbell ding, dong. Before announcements.

 

[gmaguire]

I like the 4 chime jingle. When did they stop using it?

 

[busestrains]

We do have one. It's the doorbell ding, dong. Before announcements.

Where is that heard? Which stations have you heard that?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Dec 2022 ==

I like the 4 chime jingle. When did they stop using it?

Southern and South West Trains both stopped using it when they switched from Amey to Worldline in 2018/2019 so this would have been when it was stopped. I believe they were the last ones to use it. So around 2018/2019 was when it stopped.

 

[heathrowrail]

Where is that heard? Which stations have you heard that?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Dec 2022 ==


Southern and South West Trains both stopped using it when they switched from Amey to Worldline in 2018/2019 so this would have been when it was stopped. I believe they were the last ones to use it. So around 2018/2019 was when it stopped.

 

[busestrains]

Ah yes you are right. I forgot about that one. Only certain Worldline systems seem to play it. I think it plays on GWR and SWR all the time but others like Southeastern and Southern do not seem to play it.

Anyway it is a very simple basic jingle. Nothing stands out about it. I do not think it is a very good railway jingle compared to the others. We need something better than that.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've posted about audio brands before. And yes, I think it would be a good idea, and don't forget that BR had the standard "dong dang ding" used at most stations, which sort of said (no idea if intentional) "Bri-tish Rail" sort of in the manner of the SBB ones. (That's your number 3)

I am actually very surprised no TOC bar Arriva Trains Wales has done it (they did add it, it wasn't on the 175s as built), most of all that Virgin had that ear splitting bing bong rather than something more, well, Virgin. I quite liked the old Mk3 harp strum, but maybe GBR (if it ever happens) should make something more distinctive part of its brand and use it in various forms everywhere, a bit like many major brands do, e.g. the Nestle "dong dong dong ding dong" that features on all its ads, and a musicalised form on their hold music!

A notable one I remember from my childhood was the Underground's reversed "dong ding", plus DB's oh-so-German church bells. (I was so surprised DB didn't use that as their new audio brand - it's on YouTube somewhere, but it sort of goes D B do do do, sort of combining the notes D and B with a sort of clickety clack rhythm).

Of the existing railway ones the best has to be SNCF, though. So wonderfully French.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Dec 2022 ==

The Arriva Wales one, most notably, is *almost* but not quite the first few notes of the Welsh national anthem. I absolutely think TfW should do a "correct" version of that (first 7 notes of Land of my Fathers would work well) and use it going forward. And how good would some bagpipes with the first four notes of Flower of Scotland sound north of the border? Some DB regional stock seems to play a different tune depending which Bundesland it is in, but I checked a few and they don't seem to be anthems, so I don't know if they are perhaps something from a composer from that Land. I love that kind of local influence, it gives real personality.

Not sure about England, God Save the King and Jerusalem just don't quite seem to fit. But I do think the Victoria Wood esque "friendly Northerner" voice on the 195/331 is almost a brand in itself.

 

[43096]

Of the existing railway ones the best has to be SNCF, though. So wonderfully French.

Nope. The Swiss (as usual) have got it right. Three different three note chimes that sound the company initials, one each for German speaking (SBB), one French (CFF) and one Italian (FFS). I'd go for the SBB version - it's perfect.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Previous thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/why-dont-the-uk-tocs-have-an-audio-brand.212998/

 

[telstarbox]

I like the 4 chime jingle. When did they stop using it?

It's Jerusalem

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's Jerusalem

Wow, so it is! Deliberate?

 

[Peter0124]

Oddly, announcements at Kirkhill have a jingle kind of sound (the only ScotRail station I've noticed to have it).

 

[yorksrob]

I'd go for the jingle off of Hi-de-Hi (with Ruth Madoc doing all of the announcements).

 

[mike57]

A jingle helps if you are hard of hearing, as they give you an opportunity to concentrate without missing the first part of what is said. From this perspective the SNCF one is about right in terms of length.

BUT, to be helpful it needs to be the same across the network, not TOC specific, and it should only preface announcements that are applicable to the journey being undertaken not all the dross that we have to suffer these days, rain is wet, there are gaps between the train and the platform, see it etc.

 

[PTR 444]

IMHO I would just roll out the South West Trains 4-chime jingle across the entire railway network (think they stopped using it a few months after SWT became SWR).

 

[AzureOtsu]

I like the 4 chime jingle. When did they stop using it?

you can still hear it and the fast train jingle at norwood junction-west croydon

 

[pdq]

For musos... E E F# G F# D E

Otherwise remembered as This is the age of the train

 

[gmaguire]

For musos... E E F# G F# D E

Otherwise remembered as This is the age of the train

…with Jimmy Saville

 

[D365]

Of the existing railway ones the best has to be SNCF, though. So wonderfully French.

I'm not a fan. With announcements every ~3 mins, it becomes horrendously jarring.

I like the 4 chime jingle. When did they stop using it?

It's Jerusalem

What does this mean?

 

[gmaguire]

I'm not a fan. With announcements every ~3 mins, it becomes horrendously jarring.



What does this mean?

Jerusalem is a hymn. Some consider it to be the unofficial anthem of England. I think the 4 chime jingle is the same four notes as the start of the first verse at 0:17.

 

[D365]

Jerusalem is a hymn. Some consider it to be the unofficial anthem of England. I think the 4 chime jingle is the same four notes as the start of the first verse at 0:17.

Very obscure - it would have never occurred to me.

 

[busestrains]

I've posted about audio brands before. And yes, I think it would be a good idea, and don't forget that BR had the standard "dong dang ding" used at most stations, which sort of said (no idea if intentional) "Bri-tish Rail" sort of in the manner of the SBB ones. (That's your number 3)

I am actually very surprised no TOC bar Arriva Trains Wales has done it (they did add it, it wasn't on the 175s as built), most of all that Virgin had that ear splitting bing bong rather than something more, well, Virgin. I quite liked the old Mk3 harp strum, but maybe GBR (if it ever happens) should make something more distinctive part of its brand and use it in various forms everywhere, a bit like many major brands do, e.g. the Nestle "dong dong dong ding dong" that features on all its ads, and a musicalised form on their hold music!

A notable one I remember from my childhood was the Underground's reversed "dong ding", plus DB's oh-so-German church bells. (I was so surprised DB didn't use that as their new audio brand - it's on YouTube somewhere, but it sort of goes D B do do do, sort of combining the notes D and B with a sort of clickety clack rhythm).

Of the existing railway ones the best has to be SNCF, though. So wonderfully French.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Dec 2022 ==

The Arriva Wales one, most notably, is *almost* but not quite the first few notes of the Welsh national anthem. I absolutely think TfW should do a "correct" version of that (first 7 notes of Land of my Fathers would work well) and use it going forward. And how good would some bagpipes with the first four notes of Flower of Scotland sound north of the border? Some DB regional stock seems to play a different tune depending which Bundesland it is in, but I checked a few and they don't seem to be anthems, so I don't know if they are perhaps something from a composer from that Land. I love that kind of local influence, it gives real personality.

Not sure about England, God Save the King and Jerusalem just don't quite seem to fit. But I do think the Victoria Wood esque "friendly Northerner" voice on the 195/331 is almost a brand in itself.

It is a shame that TFW seem to be getting rid of the jingle. None of the 197/230/231/398/756/MK4 play it (or any other jingle) so it looks like it will soon disappear. I think it is a big mistake not putting this jingle on the new stock.

I like that idea of having different jingles in different areas. I remember those different jingles on the German regional trains. I am not sure if they still play. I think the Czech railways have a large amount of different jingles at their stations with different areas using different ones.

Trisha Jarman is the Northern Rail voice. She certainly has a well suited voice for Northern Rail trains. She has a very Northern England accent so certainly a good fit. There is also that unknown male voice who does the safety announcements alongside her. He has a very pleasant cheerful sounding voice. I think the two of them definitely sound well suited to Northern Rail trains.

IMHO I would just roll out the South West Trains 4-chime jingle across the entire railway network (think they stopped using it a few months after SWT became SWR).

Southern and South Western Railway had both stopped using it between 2018 to 2019 (the date is depending on the station) which is when they switched from the Amey system to their current Worldline system. They used the three chime jingle for their female Celia Drummond announcements and the four chime jingle for their male Phil Sayer announcements. So you would usually hear the three chime on one platform and the four chime on the opposite platform.

you can still hear it and the fast train jingle at norwood junction-west croydon

Only the fast train trumpet horn still plays at certain London Overground stations. The three chime jingles and four chime jingles disappeared when the stations transferred from Southern to London Overground years ago. But the fast train trumpet horn still plays.

The trumpet horn can be heard at these twelve stations, Anerley, Brockley, Clapham High Street, Crystal Palace, Forest Hill, Honour Oak Park, New Cross Gate, Norwood Junction, Penge West, Sydenham, Wandsworth Road, West Croydon, which all still have it.

Although it will not be there for much longer. London Overground are replacing their Amey system soon (this is the very last Amey system left) which means the fast train trumpet horns will disappear. So get there soon if you want to hear it for the final time.

 

[AlterEgo]

The French one on SNCF is by far the best audio brand. It sounds choral.

I also miss the four tone ascending carillon you used to get. And Phil Sayer.

 

[HSTEd]

I think two or three tones is the most you should go for, otherwise it wil just get in the way of the actual announcement.

I do like the Swiss German one. Then again I think the SBB is a masterpiece in understated branding!

Also they provide a version of their brand guide on their website. It's all public access available although some of it is only in the Swiss languages, the digital design guide one is available in English.

 

[SussexSeagull]

The French one on SNCF is by far the best audio brand. It sounds choral.

I also miss the four tone ascending carillon you used to get. And Phil Sayer.

Made it onto a David Gilmour (of Pink Floyd fame) track

 

[D365]

Made it onto a David Gilmour (of Pink Floyd fame) track

Goodness. I didn’t think that it could get even more annoying.

 

[kwrail]

They could always get rid of 'See it, Say it, Sorted'. Make everyone happy. Whose stupid idea was that slogan?

 

[htmtrains]

In a lot of other countries in Mainland Europe they have well known jingles that always play for the automated announcements. These have become quite popular and well known. Everyone in these countries would know the sound. The SNCF one in France is probably one of the most well known ones. Russia has a well known one that has been used for years too. Hungary has four different ones to differentiate the train type. SBB CFF FFS has three different ones for the three different languages of the country. Other countries do too.

Back in the BR days and early privatisation we sort of did with the three chime and four chime jingles. But these have pretty much disappeared now. I guess it is difficult with lots of different operators but it should be possible to still play these. I think the Worldline system (which is what most TOCs use these days) can play jingles.

Should we introduce a jingle across the railway network? What does everyone think? What jingle would you suggest as the UK railway jingle? What would be the best one?

I have attached a couple that i like that i think would be good ones to use. These are quite nice ones.

Where is number 2 from?

 

[whoosh]

Slight deviation, but I like the Japanese idea of a different melody for each station.

 

[busestrains]

Where is number 2 from?

It is the Eurostar jingle. It plays before the automated announcements on the Eurostar platforms at Ashford and Ebbsfleet and London St Pancras and onboard the class 374 trains every time the Guard makes a manual announcement. It was introduced about ten years ago as the main Eurostar jingle.