Suggestions for Merseyrail 777s (including announcements, nicknames etc)

[Bevan Price]

Doesn't have to be him, I just used him as an example of a soft, south Liverpool Scouse, I don't think the really guttural North Scouse would be good for that purpose.

There are plenty of Liverpool-born actors who could be asked, e.g. any of the McGann brothers, if they ever need to change the announcer.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

There are plenty of Liverpool-born actors who could be asked, e.g. any of the McGann brothers, if they ever need to change the announcer.

I vote for Nigel Blackwell for stations on the Wirral, Alexei Sayle for the ones this side of the water...

 

[Bald Rick]

Just as well platforms are numbered rather than lettered.

”The next train to arrive at Platform A, Eh, Eh, Eh…. calm down, calm down!”

 

[Rhysdabeast]

Hi All.
Can anyone tell me what worked 5Q23 slade green to doncaster this evening please. Went through my place a bit early so only heard it.
Thanks in Advance.

465903/906 in tow behind the 37

 

[Rhysdabeast]

Thanks. Any idea on the 37 please. missed the light engine return also. We seem to be guaranteed a 37 every day through where i live. Yet before they became rare maybe once a month !!!!.

37884

 

[Bletchleyite]

Hello people. Lots of interesting stuff in here since Monday. I’ll have a go at responding to a few points raised:

1. Voice is Julie Berry who made a new set of recordings for us

Why not a local voice rather than a posh Southerner?

 

[MattRat]

Why not a local voice rather than a posh Southerner?

'Local' voices can still be 'posh Southerners', considering how many scousers leave Liverpool. And what even constitutes Liverpool anymore, when people keep throwing around the word wool. It's just a can of worms waiting to be open.

 

[Parjon]

Why not a local voice rather than a posh Southerner?

And you live where?!

Btw we do have "posh" people here too? Or would only a stereotype suit your preferences?

 

[markymark2000]

Why not a local voice rather than a posh Southerner

I suspect because a local voice may end up with the following announcements.

"Ey ar, your next stop is Kirkby. Don't forget your s*** else my mate Johnny will nik it."

"Get your feet off the seats you scruff"

"In the event of an emergency, run like ell"

"If you see something suspicious, keep your gob shut. I know where you live"

 

[Vespa]

The best voice to use is Recieved Pronouciation, it's understood by everybody as not everyone using the new trains is from Liverpool, some will come from St Helens, Southport, Manchester, London etc, digital text displays is useful for deaf people who can't hear the announcements.

*Some local accent can be impenetrable to some.

 

[Bletchleyite]

And you live where?!

I similarly like the "Sathern" voice on their EMUs. Again, it's a local identity.

Btw we do have "posh" people here too? Or would only a stereotype suit your preferences?

I would hardly call Ringo Starr (say) poor. Is not the association of regional accents with poor people something we've done quite well at breaking recently?

What "frequent brickings"?? I don't recall this happening even once. Perhaps you are imagining a different city.

It isn't specific to Liverpool, it happens everywhere. I've experienced it a number of times, including some broken windows.

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The best voice to use is Recieved Pronouciation, it's understood by everybody as not everyone using the new trains is from Liverpool, some will come from St Helens, Southport, Manchester, London etc, digital text displays is useful for deaf people who can't hear the announcements.

*Some local accent can be impenetrable to some.

Can anyone genuinely not understand Ringo Starr voicing Thomas?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jan 2023 ==

Why this obsession with Ringo Starr ?

He's an example of an excellent local voice which would bring real character to the system. Doesn't have to be him, but he is recognisable as Liverpool without being "scally".

I'm actually surprised the Scousers in this thread are happy that their accent is perceived as lower class. Surely we've got beyond that now? As I said, Northern uses a friendly Victoria Wood style accent, the Metrolink is recognisably Manc, and Southern uses a very Southern accent (isn't that Julie Berry too?), ScotRail has a Scottish one, TfW a Welsh one (though it's perhaps not the best). Why not?

 

[Skie]

Why not a local voice rather than a posh Southerner?

Because the passengers asked to keep her. Though perhaps if they’d have known what we do know (her twitter is off the rails) then a different voice might have been chosen.

 

[Vespa]

Can anyone genuinely not understand Ringo Starr voicing Thomas?

Why this obsession with Ringo Starr ?

 

[60159]

The best voice to use is Recieved Pronouciation, it's understood by everybody as not everyone using the new trains is from Liverpool, some will come from St Helens, Southport, Manchester, London etc, digital text displays is useful for deaf people who can't hear the announcements.

*Some local accent can be impenetrable to some.

Without trying to be biased the Scottish girl is very clear and suitable for any part of the U.K.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I suspect because a local voice may end up with the following announcements.

"Ey ar, your next stop is Kirkby. Don't forget your s*** else my mate Johnny will nik it."

"Get your feet off the seats you scruff"

"In the event of an emergency, run like ell"

"If you see something suspicious, keep your gob shut. I know where you live"

Made me chuckle this!

 

[busestrains]

The best voice to use is Recieved Pronouciation, it's understood by everybody as not everyone using the new trains is from Liverpool, some will come from St Helens, Southport, Manchester, London etc, digital text displays is useful for deaf people who can't hear the announcements.

*Some local accent can be impenetrable to some.

I do kind of agree with this. Local accents can be nice but Received Pronunciation is probably the easiest to understand for everyone. Especially foreign visitors who do not speak English well. If i had to pick one voice to use on the entire railway network i would pick that Only Woman lady (who was at Brighton and East Croydon and Gatwick Airport and London Victoria until a few years ago) as she had a very clear neutral Received Pronunciation accent without sounding overly posh or having any particular regional accent and she had a very nice sounding voice.

I similarly like the "Sathern" voice on their EMUs. Again, it's a local identity.



I would hardly call Ringo Starr (say) poor. Is not the association of regional accents with poor people something we've done quite well at breaking recently?



It isn't specific to Liverpool, it happens everywhere. I've experienced it a number of times, including some broken windows.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jan 2023 ==



Can anyone genuinely not understand Ringo Starr voicing Thomas?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jan 2023 ==



He's an example of an excellent local voice which would bring real character to the system. Doesn't have to be him, but he is recognisable as Liverpool without being "scally".

I'm actually surprised the Scousers in this thread are happy that their accent is perceived as lower class. Surely we've got beyond that now? As I said, Northern uses a friendly Victoria Wood style accent, the Metrolink is recognisably Manc, and Southern uses a very Southern accent (isn't that Julie Berry too?), ScotRail has a Scottish one, TfW a Welsh one (though it's perhaps not the best). Why not?

I agree local accents can work. It works well on Northern Rail trains as you have said. But i do not think that it is necessary if you have a good voiceover who is already used. I think the quality of the voiceover artist is more important than a local accent.

I always thought Celia Drummond was an excellent fit for SWR with her very posh voice as they mainly serve wealthy posh areas of Surrey and South West London so her voice is perfect. It is a shame she was removed from the Southern stations and SWR stations a few years ago as she fit in very well there too. But at least she is still onboard all the SWR trains.

Julie Berry is heard onboard trains everywhere so she is clearly popular. She is currently onboard all trains run by, C2C, Chiltern Railways, East Midlands Railway, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Greater Anglia, London North Western Railway, London Underground, Piccadilly Line, Merseyrail, Southeastern, Southern, Stansted Express, Thameslink, West Midlands Railway, so is very widely used. As she has been used on Merseyrail for years i think they ought to keep her as she is a familiar well liked voice.

However if Merseyrail finally get round to introducing station platform announcements (they are the one and only TOC left without them) then maybe Ringo Starr or another suitable Scouser could be chosen. It might be possible to pick Ringo Starr or another Scouser professional voiceover artist here instead of the standard Anne Jermy ones that are almost everywhere these days. So i suppose there is still the opportunity to pick a local voice when they get round to introducing station platform announcements.

Because the passengers asked to keep her. Though perhaps if they’d have known what we do know (her twitter is off the rails) then a different voice might have been chosen.

Why does it matter what she posts on her personal Twitter account!? What does her personal views and opinions have to do with her voiceover work!?

Nobody agrees with everyone. I actually personally agree with a lot of what she posts on her Twitter but everyone has their own views. I really dislike this new cancel culture of trying to cancel and boycott everyone who has a different view. I think we need to learn to accept that everyone has their own views and opinions.

Without trying to be biased the Scottish girl is very clear and suitable for any part of the U.K.

Which one as there are four different female voiceover artists on the Scotrail network:

• Fletcher Mathers (Onboard Announcer)
• Alison Mckay (Ketech System Station Announcements)
• Anonymous Network Rail Employee (ASL System Station Announcements)
• Karen Cunningham (Atos Worldline System Station Announcements)

I think that Alison Mckay would work quite well outside of Scotland too. She has a very and pleasant easy to understand voice. Not really too strong of an accent. I am not sure most of the others would work so well in England though.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Are you sure Julie is used on WMT? The voice is noticeably different from the "Sathern" voice on their Electrostars which I was pretty sure was her.

If so, does she offer a library of accents?

 

[busestrains]

Are you sure Julie is used on WMT? The voice is noticeably different from the "Sathern" voice on their Electrostars which I was pretty sure was her.

If so, does she offer a library of accents?

Yes i am 100% sure. It is Julie Berry on both the WMT 170/172/196/230/310/323/350/730 fleet and on the Southern Rail 171/313/377/387/455 fleet. It is the same exact voice. It is well documented that it is her and she has mentioned in an interview that she voices all of the onboard announcements on London Midland and on Southern which confirms it.

Julie Berry is the most widely used voiceover (and also the longest serving one as she was introduced in the late 1970s around 1978 or 1979 as the station platform announcer at many British Rail stations) and she can be heard on all of the past and present trains:

• AGA/NXEA/ONE class 153/156/170/315/317/321/322/360/379/720/745/755
• British Rail stations (Infomat) [removed]
• C2C class 357/387/720
• Chiltern Railways class 165/168/172/MK3
• Elizabeth Line class 315
• EMR/EMT class 153/156/158/170/360
• FCC class 317/319/321/365/377
• FGW/GWR class 387 (only their "this is coach number x of x" announcements at short platforms)
• Gatwick Express class 387/442
• Great Northern class 317/321/365/387/717
• Heathrow Connect class 360
• Heathrow Express class 360
• LM class 150/153/170/172/319/321/323/350
• LNWR class 230/319/350/730
• LO class 315/317/321
• LO class 378 (only their "this is coach number x of x" announcements at short platforms)
• LU 1973 stock
• LU Piccadilly Line stations [removed]
• Merseyrail class 507/508/777
• Southeastern class 375/376/377/395/465/466/707
• Southern class 171/313/377/387/442/455/456
• Stansted Express class 317/379/745
• TFL Rail class 315/360
• Thameslink class 319/377/387/700
• West Midland Metro onboard [removed]
• West Midland Metro stations [removed]
• WMR class 170/172/196/323/350/730

Maybe she does her voice slightly different for different TOCs i suppose. Perhaps some tell her to sound more posh or less posh. But it is the same voice. If you listen carefully to the announcements and compare them you can definitely tell it is her on both WMT and Southern Rail trains.

For some example here is her Southern Rail announcements:

And then here is her WMT announcements:

So it still sounds very similar. I think compared to other voiceovers (like Celia Drummond whose voice changed significantly over the years) i find Julie Berry keeps her voice fairly similar for most of the trains. Maybe a slight difference in the voice she has used but not much. It might also be the different types of speakers on the different trains making her sound slightly different. But it is still her on both.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thanks. Yes, you can tell when putting them next to each other, but the speakers of the 350s do sound subtly different to the Electrostars, I guess enough for me to think it was different.

At least she's not ATOS Annie!

 

[busestrains]

Thanks. Yes, you can tell when putting them next to each other, but the speakers of the 350s do sound subtly different to the Electrostars, I guess enough for me to think it was different.

At least she's not ATOS Annie!

Yes it probably is the speakers making it sound slightly different. The different speakers can significantly affect the audio. On the Southern Rail 313s i find Julie Berry can often sound quite different and a bit muffled as the speakers are very old. So the speakers do affect what the voice sounds like.

Yes at least Atos Anne has not made it onboard any trains yet! But she is very rapidly spreading across our stations! There are very few railway stations left without Atos Anne these days. She is even at all stations in Northern Ireland so there are very few stations in the UK left without.