Avanti take needless announcements to a new level

[TUC]

Even TPE have started with catering announcements after every stop! Must of been influenced by Avanti.

No problem with the basic announcement after every stop of there being catering and which carriage it is in. How would newly boarded passengers know otherwise? It's the stream of additional information that goes with it that is the problem.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Dec 2025 ==

Y
That's how it should be; so much information that is announced in the UK should be (and is already sometimes) confined to the internal LCDs that most trains have now (failing that, onboard posters). The only argument I can see being put in favour of all of these announcements is if someone is visually impaired and needs it in an audio form.

And that is a very important consideration. No announcements should ever just be in a visual format.

 

[Lewisham2221]

So how about fixing the doors so they don’t close on people?

Totally agree, I was just addressing the somewhat sarcastic post which I quoted

 

[D1537]

Even TPE have started with catering announcements after every stop! Must of been influenced by Avanti.

We travelled to Edinburgh this weekend with LNER. Northbound, no catering announcements apart from the usual one saying the shop would be shutting for 15 minutes while the crew swapped over. Southbound, detailed announcement after every stop.

 

[gg1]

I think that is partly because a previous generation of trains, such as HSTs, had foot sensors which would open the doors automatically in response to stepping on them. Why these haven't been fitted to more recent trains is somewhat puzzling.

Reliability?

I definitely remember them failing on multiple occasions, either not working at all so you had to slide the doors manually or randomly open and closing when there was no one standing anywhere near them. I don't recall ever travelling on a more modern train where the push button doors were out of action.

 

[NeakPed]

I don't recall ever travelling on a more modern train where the push button doors were out of action.

A few Meridians have been operating on the MML recently with some of the buttons out of use with a note stuck next to them saying to use the pedal on the floor.

 

[TUC]

A few Meridians have been operating on the MML recently with some of the buttons out of use with a note stuck next to them saying to use the pedal on the floor.

So they have a foot pedal as well?

 

[45Fox]

Reliability?

I definitely remember them failing on multiple occasions, either not working at all so you had to slide the doors manually or randomly open and closing when there was no one standing anywhere near them. I don't recall ever travelling on a more modern train where the push button doors were out of action.

I seem to recall defective sliding doors in the vestibule on Mk.3 coaches (loco hauled not HST) played a part in the delayed evacuation of a train on fire 40+ years back. A Scottish Region push-pull service if I remember correctly.

 

[TUC]

What wouldhelp is if at least the doors had sensors to stop them closing when someone is standing between them. It is a real pain and, if a child or dog is in the way, potentially dangerous for it to suddenly close whilst you’re waiting to get off/on the train.

 

[lrbvoyager]

No problem with the basic announcement after every stop of there being catering and which carriage it is in. How would newly boarded passengers know otherwise? It's the stream of additional information that goes with it that is the problem.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Dec 2025 ==


And that is a very important consideration. No announcements should ever just be in a visual format.

They normally describe the West Coast kitchen and what they offer! But silly considering that the West Coast Kitchen is only offered to First Class!!

 

[CaptainHaddock]

I absolutely agree that the content and sheer number of announcements are ridiculous. The reason for them unfortunately are that "secret shoppers" are travelling on the service and scoring the TM and catering crew on their performance. A large part of this is announcements and if certain things are left out you get scored accordingly. I have gone through this process and the subsequent debrief with a manager.
I lost points on not reminding customers to take care due to slippy underfoot conditions due to the rain. I also was questioned why I hadn't done tickets between Preston and Crewe. Had to point out that the train was full and standing, I had bikes on and off, wheelchair users booked and joining us yet all wheelchair spaces where full of massive suitcases and a medical emergency. Little reminder to everyone before you jump to a conclusion about what the TM is or isn't doing, there will no doubt be a very valid reason that you are unaware off.

Don't managers take feedback from train crew into account when determining their policies of what to announce and when? We seem to have got into a ridiculous situation where passengers don't want to hear the announcements and guards don't want to make them yet no one in authority has the guts to say "Look, the vast majority of this nonsense is either irrelevant or obvious so let's get rid of most of it"!

 

[Uncle Buck]

On an Avanti train on last Friday, usual announcements about the catering, but then launched into a 'Mission Statement' about how Avanti are 'serving' you. I felt embarassed on his behalf. Unnecessary, tedious, and, of course, unconvincing.

Why is it that the worst customer service comes from companies that drone on about their values and the best comes from people who just get on with their job?

 

[philthetube]

Catering announcements should be made after every stop, however companies should realise that people will work out for themselves that tea and coffee is available, and if they want food they will investigate for themselves.

I approve of the announcements because the more people using catering the better, it becomes less likely that it will be lost.

 

[Krokodil]

Don't managers take feedback from train crew into account when determining their policies

Ha! If management listened more to frontline staff there would be fewer "I told you so" moments.

 

[TUC]

Why is it that the worst customer service comes from companies that drone on about their values and the best comes from people who just get on with their job?

It does remind me of one organisation I passed with a notice on the door advising that they would be closed on Wed afternoon for an inspection of the quality of their customer service.

 

[Falcon1200]

So how about fixing the doors so they don’t close on people?

How would that realistically be achieved?

potentially dangerous for it to suddenly close whilst you’re waiting to get off/on the train.

Don't external doors normally have alarms when about to close?

 

[Lewisham2221]

How would that realistically be achieved?

Some sort of (infrared?) sensor which detects an obstruction. Alternatively, a (very) sensitive edge on the door, so it automatically reopens as soon as it touches someone/something.

Don't external doors normally have alarms when about to close?

External doors do, yes. I'd rather hear an announcement after each stop, about the internal doors though, rather than a hustle alarm every time they close, if that's what you're implying?

 

[TUC]

How would that realistically be achieved?



Don't external doors normally have alarms when about to close?

I’m talking about internal doors.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

It does remind me of one organisation I passed with a notice on the door advising that they would be closed on Wed afternoon for an inspection of the quality of their customer service.

Reminds me of the time Bangor station buffet had a notice up saying it was closed for lunch...

 

[sheff1]

Catering announcements should be made after every stop,

The announcement should be brief - "buffet car is in coach X at the rear/front/centre of the train" or "the catering trolley will be passing through the train" - not the stuff listed in the OP.

"Serving/offering drinks and light refreshments" is fine too, but not a lengthy list of everything on the menu.

 

[Russel]

The announcement should be brief - "buffet car is in coach X at the rear/front/centre of the train" or "the catering trolley will be passing through the train" - not the stuff listed in the OP.

"Serving/offering drinks and light refreshments" is fine too, but not a lengthy list of everything on the menu.

This is all that is needed, agreed.

There is simply no need to reel off the entire menu, people know what to expect from an on train buffet/trolley.

 

[Falcon1200]

I’m talking about internal doors.

Ah, so this is people standing within the train? When I do that I don't stand where the internal doors can suddenly close on me!

But you do make a good point, I have seen others caught by the internal doors in such circumstances. Perhaps clearer warnings on the doors themselves are needed?

 

[cats_five]

Ah, so this is people standing within the train? When I do that I don't stand where the internal doors can suddenly close on me!

But you do make a good point, I have seen others caught by the internal doors in such circumstances. Perhaps clearer warnings on the doors themselves are needed?

One closed on me as I used to take a lot of HST journeys and was used to them staying open as you walked through. Realised my mistake as it started to shut & pressed the button. Suspect the button isn't visible when the doors are open.

 

[Broucek]

The allergy thing is out of control. Anyone with a serious allergy is careful about it.

By contrast, I have mild allergies to certain fish and seafood but generally don't mention them as they cause too much fuss relative to the risk ("cheesecake for the person who is allergic to prawns" I was once offered).

 

[mike57]

I have mild allergies to certain fish and seafood

I am the same with shellfish, not life theatening, very mild really, sufficient for me to apply a bit of common sense (eat 1 prawn, no effect, eat a bowl of prawns, I may see them again). Unfortunately common sense is the one commodity that seems to missing from a lot of these issues and the company responses to them.

As I have said before I have some fairly significant hearing loss, and the constant drone is tiring, so I breakout the noise cancelling earbuds, play some music, and drown it out, judging by the number of people wearing ear buds or full over ear headphones I am in the majority with my dislike of it.

 

[cats_five]

The allergy thing is out of control. Anyone with a serious allergy is careful about it.

They can only be as careful as information lets them be. There are plenty of examples of people with severe allergies dying because food was incorrectly labelled.

 

[TUC]

They can only be as careful as information lets them be. There are plenty of examples of people with severe allergies dying because food was incorrectly labelled.

Again, incorrect labelling is nothing that making train announcements, or the staff, can do anything about.

 

[Lewisham2221]

They can only be as careful as information lets them be. There are plenty of examples of people with severe allergies dying because food was incorrectly labelled.

If the food's incorrectly labelled, the staff aren't going to know either. So telling them you have an allergy will achieve absolutely nothing

 

[The exile]

How would that realistically be achieved

HSTs managed it (ok - it wasn’t foolproof) and plenty of trains and other places have doors that detect contact and open again, whereas Voyager internal doors just keep closing (with some force).

 

[Russel]

If the food's incorrectly labelled, the staff aren't going to know either. So telling them you have an allergy will achieve absolutely nothing

How many more times will this point need repeating in this thread?

 

[ajp999]

Heard an announcement today that the shop was unable to sell hot drinks as the train was too crowded.