Anne/Sarah's announcements

[londonmidland]

I'm going to look completely stupid here and ask if you've got any more recordings of her? I actually like her

Lol! I hate her, she's got such an annoying voice!:mad:

 

[Jordy]

I'm going to look completely stupid here and ask if you've got any more recordings of her? I actually like her

I have just lost all respect for you :P

 

[thefab444]

I'm going to look completely stupid here and ask if you've got any more recordings of her? I actually like her

Well it takes all sorts I guess!

The male voice on that system is better, but sadly less used.

How much can you handle...

 

[jon0844]

The voice is okay but the idea is to record them so they sound right stitched together in different combinations.

Sent from my MB525 using Tapatalk

 

[WestCoast]

I don't think Pauline is anymore annoying than Anne - I dislike Anne the more I hear her. The fact that she is spreading to FGW land doesn't help. I like the Phil/Celia combo the best.

 

[londonmidland]

I don't think Pauline is anymore annoying than Anne - I dislike Anne the more I hear her. The fact that she is spreading to FGW land doesn't help. I like the Phil/Celia combo the best.

She's spreading to FGW land, I know that's she's spread to FCC land but not FGW land. Anyone got any recordings?

 

[jon0844]

Yes Anne is now on FCC. On FCC, is now Anne.

(That's how she'd say it anyway)

 

[Aictos]

I don't think Pauline is anymore annoying than Anne - I dislike Anne the more I hear her. The fact that she is spreading to FGW land doesn't help. I like the Phil/Celia combo the best.

While I agree about Anne being annoying, I do disagree with your point about the Phil/Celia combo being the best as the best two combo that I know and would prefer to have is Fletcher Mathers and Phil Sayers as they wipe the floor from other voices,

 

[WestCoast]

would prefer to have is Fletcher Mathers and Phil Sayers as they wipe the floor from other voices

Is Fletcher Mathers the Scottish voice, do you have any recordings of where she is used?

I do think that Phil/Celia works well though, the thing I like about Celia is that she sounds vastly different (and so doesn't get boring) on different things. Compare her LU Jubilee Line voice to her Northern Line one and then to her Ditra recordings, there is certainly a considerable difference. Plus, we don't here much Celia (or Phil for that matter) in the North West. We've got Anne(), the TPE guy who sounds AWFUL and the unidentified woman at VT stations who is quite nice but always puts "ONLY" (no matter if its one or 25 stops) at the end of her stopping patterns.

 

[thefab444]

Fletcher Mathers is a minor actress who provided the voice for announcements on all Scotrail stock after Scotrail received so many complaints about their original voice! She's not too bad, but having her on English stations alongside Phil wouldn't be very appropriate, in the same way there would be an uproar if you put Celia at Edinburgh Waverley!

Original (she sounds half cut, so probably about right for Glasgow!)
Fletcher Mathers

I can't remember the name of the woman who provided the voice for Ditra stations in Scotland, although I'm sure I read it somewhere.

The "TPE Guy" is a chap who works for them called Rob, who apparently doesn't sound anywhere near as bad in real life (I should hope not!). Some of the wording of his announcements suggests that he is a Ketech Ditra product, although it's hard to believe when you compare it to Phil/Celia.

 

[Aictos]

Fletcher Mathers is a minor actress who provided the voice for announcements on all Scotrail stock after Scotrail received so many complaints about their original voice! She's not too bad, but having her on English stations alongside Phil wouldn't be very appropriate, in the same way there would be an uproar if you put Celia at Edinburgh Waverley!

Put it this way, I couldn't give too hoots if as a example I was the manager responsible for the First Group CIS contract and insisted on Phil and Fletcher being the two voices with Phil being used on southern First stations and Fletcher being used on northern First stations.

Southern stations being FGW and FCC and Northern stations being TPE and FSR.

I prefer travelling in Scotland and hearing her tones on the PA as 1.) It's a damn sight more reassuring and relaxing then Anne, 2.) It's a great deal more easier on the ears and 3.) It's a Scottish voice.

Hence why this year I'm going to try to do a lot more travelling in Scotland,

 

[WestCoast]

Original (she sounds half cut, so probably about right for Glasgow!)

It sounds a bit like they've pulled someone off a Glasgow street on a Saturday night! Still rather better than Anne

Fletcher does sound really good, her announcements flow really well. I think Julie Berry flows nicely as an English equivalent, they should try and get her to do some station recordings.

The TPE Rob is simply terrible, at Warrington Central some of the announcements are barely comprehensible! The words don't fit together in the slightest :roll:

 

[londonmidland]

What is wrong with Anne? I don't think she's annoying/irritating.

 

[WestCoast]

What is wrong with Anne? I don't think she's annoying/irritating.

She isn't awful by any means and I think she has a got a suitable neutral tone BUT..

She has not got that presence in her voice - she doesn't stand out above other noises (like Phil or even Celia does) which doesn't make her suitable for big noisy stations like Leeds or Manchester Piccadilly.

The intonation in her voice and the way she says things like "northern" as if she has a cold or "firsttranspennineexpress" all one word in a massive hurry.

Some of the wording is odd and unnecessarily long (although this may be down to the recording company) -

This is all one announcement: "Passengers are reminded that they must not leave luggage unattended blah blah, it will be removed or destroyed by the security services..., a secure left luggage facility is provided at blah blah, to enable passengers to store their luggage" - just seems too long and no one will listen. It's similar to the one about request stops - FAR TOO LONG WINDED

However, Ruth (ATW) can be annoying at times, I think she sounds very bored.

 

[londonmidland]

She isn't awful by any means and I think she has a got a suitable neutral tone BUT..

She has not got that presence in her voice - she doesn't stand out above other noises (like Phil or even Celia does) which doesn't make her suitable for big noisy stations like Leeds or Manchester Piccadilly.

The intonation in her voice and the way she says things like "northern" as if she has a cold or "firsttranspennineexpress" all one word in a massive hurry.

Some of the wording is odd and unnecessarily long (although this may be down to the recording company) -

This is all one announcement: "Passengers are reminded that they must not leave luggage unattended blah blah, it will be removed or destroyed by the security services..., a secure left luggage facility is provided at blah blah, to enable passengers to store their luggage" - just seems too long and no one will listen. It's similar to the one about request stops - FAR TOO LONG WINDED

However, Ruth (ATW) can be annoying at times, I think she sounds very bored.

Ruth say's arrivatrainswales as "arrrivatrainswalesss"

 

[WestCoast]

[/B]

Ruth say's arrivatrainswales as "arrrivatrainswalesss"

Yes, she does. The only reason I find Anne annoying is because of hearing her all the time - and the fact she seems to be spreading across the country. It's making it more bland.....:cry:

 

[londonmidland]

I have made a poll everyone, choose who your favourite announcer is! If you don't know who some of the names are here is a video to help you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbryZtRN9W0

 

[thefab444]

I prefer travelling in Scotland and hearing her tones on the PA as 1.) It's a damn sight more reassuring and relaxing then Anne, 2.) It's a great deal more easier on the ears and 3.) It's a Scottish voice.

Of course, she's perfect for Scottish trains and stations. But I would prefer an English accent on English stations.

I think Julie Berry flows nicely as an English equivalent, they should try and get her to do some station recordings.

Julie Berry has done various recorded announcements for stations, most notably on the Informat Solid State announcement systems in use on a lot of the NSE network between 1980 and 2000. She replaced Angela Peberdy as Infomat's female voice in the 1990s. To me, she's sounds awfully patronising and shouty, especially compared to Peberdy, but then again I am not a Julie fan.

Angela Peberdy
Julie Berry

Plenty more NSE-era announcement clips on Robert Payne's excellent Railway Announcements Group.

 

[SS4]

Gotta be Phil, his tones have guided me to the correct platform on many occasions at New St (and nothing to do with the fact the train always departs from platform 8a)

 

[Aictos]

I can't vote in the poll above as my choice has been left out

Where's Fletcher?

 

[WestCoast]

Julie Berry has done various recorded announcements for stations, most notably on the Informat Solid State announcement systems in use on a lot of the NSE network between 1980 and 2000. She replaced Angela Peberdy as Infomat's female voice in the 1990s. To me, she's sounds awfully patronising and shouty, especially compared to Peberdy, but then again I am not a Julie fan.

I have to admit Julie does sound a little patronising in those clips, her modern on-train recordings sound much better in my opinion. Angela Peberdy sounds rather posh - have you ever heard the recordings in the lifts at Belsize Park/Hampstead Underground stations - the voice is ridiculously upper class. I believe it is the same voice that did early recordings on LU C stock for the Circle Line. I heard it referred to as VERA.

I like Phil the best, then Celia - although Celia is very well spoken she is still clear and not patronising.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
As an aside does anyone know who does the latest announcements for London Underground - the ones on the new Victoria and Sub-surface stock? Is it the ibus woman - Emma Hignett? I rather like her voice...

 

[londonmidland]

I can't vote in the poll above as my choice has been left out

Where's Fletcher?

Sorry

 

[thefab444]

As an aside does anyone know who does the latest announcements for London Underground - the ones on the new Victoria and Sub-surface stock? Is it the ibus woman - Emma Hignett? I rather like her voice...

It is indeed Emma Hignett. She is also the voice of the new announcements on London Overground stations, which are gradually replacing an ancient Silverlink-era Anne installation (not often we can say that!). I believe she does station announcements on parts of the DLR as well, which were previously Celia.

 

[Via Bank]

Am I alone in thinking the "Boofay" woman sounds suspiciously like Julie Berry? Case in point: the "through train approaching" announcement. (That said, I'm not too fond of her on-train announcements. Too much like an over-saccharine airline steward.)

Easily the best on-train announcements come from Juniper Man (end of the video.) It'll be a shame when the 458s get refurbished/extended and the PIS gets replaced with the Celia-equipped one in use on the Desiros and 455s, as good as it is.

On the platforms, Phil and Celia are the best currently in use IMHO. Despite the appalling stitching-together, I don't mind "Pauline/Charlotte" and "Roger" as they do, at least, have decent voices. The announcements on the Underground platforms are also excellent, and extremely clear (I believe it's Elinor Hamilton, Phil's wife, who does these, although the staff-recorded announcements for each station are usually excellent too.)

I think the Jubilee Line DVA, along with the destination announcements from the "Finchleeeeey Rooad!!!" woman, has some Robert Lister recordings for terminating trains and the generic "personal belongings" announcement.

Atos Anne's announcements are like every Keanu Reeves performance ever. Emotionless, depressing, difficult to understand, poorly-paced and never-ending.

 

[WestCoast]

I think the Jubilee Line DVA, along with the destination announcements from the "Finchleeeeey Rooad!!!" woman, has some Robert Lister recordings for terminating trains and the generic "personal belongings" announcement.

Oh she is great - I really hope she isn't removed :roll:
This train terminates at Neeeeeeeeasden

The Robert Lister ones are great as well:
All Change Please!

I have to say the Jubilee Line has the best announcements on the whole of the Underground now I think about it.

Easily the best on-train announcements come from Juniper Man (end of the video.)

I think we have him on Northern too - he's on our 333s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdGm44DPH0Q - skip to 3.17mins

 

[thefab444]

The male voice on the Jubilee line doesn't sound like Robert Lister to me, but I'm not sure who he is.

The voice on the 333s is a chap called Martin Oldfield, and who is not the same as Juniper Man (or "Rich") on the 458s.

 

[WestCoast]

The voice on the 333s is a chap called Martin Oldfield, and who is not the same as Juniper Man (or "Rich") on the 458s.

I think Martin is an excellent on-train voice, certainly better than the person who voices the PA on the TPE 185s - I believe someone who is high up in TPE management?

Who's Fay on the poll?

 

[londonmidland]

I think Martin is an excellent on-train voice, certainly better than the person who voices the PA on the TPE 185s - I believe someone who is high up in TPE management?

Who's Fay on the poll?

I put Boofay and it came up as this FAY (Boofay) , don't know how it changed, magic!!!

 

[WestCoast]

I put Boofay and it came up as this FAY (Boofay) , don't know how it changed, magic!!!

"Hot and cold snacks...are available from the BOOFAY" did take me a while at first!! She sounds very creepy

 

[londonmidland]

"Hot and cold snacks...are available from the BOOFAY" did take me a while at first!! She sounds very creepy

Lol, I was at Acton Mainline at night and it was deserted, all you coud here was her with a creepy echo.