Announcing the type of train

[Hellfire]

When I'm standing at Preston station the announcer always refers to "the train approaching platform 4 is the 0657 Virgin Pendolino to London Euston." That got me thinking the other morning, do any other trains get announced by name or class? You never hear "Class 397 Trans Pennine Express approaching."

 

[Failed Unit]

east coast can still announce 225 and 125s but nothing like BR days with "sprinter" getting featured in the timetable.

 

[roversfan2001]

never hear "Class 397 Trans Pennine Express approaching."

That's because they don't exist yet.

I think it's just Virgin blowing their own trumpet about how good their trains are to be honest; although I've heard the same announcement for Super Voyagers and I don't know how anyone can think they're good!

 

[yorksrob]

I've seen the "Crosscountry HST" advertised on departure boards. They must realise they're a selling point

 

[kevconnor]

Can't imagine they'd ever do the same with Pacers.

Now arriving at platform 3 is the 0845 Pacer service to Huddersfield

Northern would like to apologise in advance for this clapt out, dilapidated decrepit sorry excuse of a train.

 

[SeanG]

I suppose it differentiates between that and avoyager so people know where to stand (ish)

 

[6Gman]

I suppose it differentiates between that and avoyager so people know where to stand (ish)

Bear in mind also that VT platforms are marked with numbers, with posters indicating where to stand for specific carriages (very useful if you have seat reservations or want the unreserved coach/es etc). But a bit pointless if they don't also announce the type and length of train!

Which - to be fair - they usually do.

 

[sn1975]

I've often wondered that at Birmingham New Street - you always hear ".....Virgin Pendolino service...." but never, for example, ".....London Midland Desiro service....." or "....CrossCountry Turbostar service......"

 

[Pumbaa]

It's all about brand and creating a "wow" factor for infrequent travellers. Nothing to stop any other TOC doing it.

 

[westv]

I've heard "Welcome to this Hull Trains Adelante service to London" more than a few times.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I remember back in the Midland Mainline days standing on several occasions at Leicester and hearing Turbostar working and High Speed trains announced, later Maridian was also called.

I hope when Scotrails HST services that they are announced as iether HsT or Express.
If nicknames were used by announcers then a lot of inosent fun could no doubt be had calling Dogboxes, dusty Bins and the like and confusing the punters!

 

[najaB]

I've heard "Welcome to this Hull Trains Adelante service to London" more than a few times.

Was that on board, or a station announcement? Virgin do it in the station.

 

[Iskra]

I once heard 'Northern Pendolino' announced on a pacer going to Man Pic

XC do it on their HST's sometimes, as do EMT and VTEC mainly in their onboard announcements.

 

[306024]

It's all about brand and creating a "wow" factor for infrequent travellers. Nothing to stop any other TOC doing it.

Helps you arrive awesome.

I'll look forward to catching an "abelliodesiro" tomorrow.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Not quite the same, but I've had a late running service from Ashford Int'l announced at Hastings as the "Brighton diesel service".

 

[Ianno87]

Waiting for an approaching 387 at Hitchin a couple of weeks ago the platform announcer added "...you lucky people will be travelling on one of our lovely, shiny, very-nearly-new trains"

 

[IanXC]

I've seen the "Crosscountry HST" advertised on departure boards. They must realise they're a selling point

I was told this was to highlight to station staff when additional dispatchers are required.

I've heard "Welcome to this Hull Trains Adelante service to London" more than a few times.

Was that on board, or a station announcement? Virgin do it in the station.

I've not heard Adalante at a station (only onboard), however Pioneer was in station CIS.

 

[yorksrob]

I was told this was to highlight to station staff when additional dispatchers are required.

Well, I suppose the party line has to perpetuate the pretence that all trains are equal

 

[Bletchleyite]

I suppose in VT's case the class of service (i.e. train category) is sort of denoted by it - sort of ICE and IC, or whatever. It probably originated in the days when a "Virgin Pendolino" meant a very different class of service to a "Virgin Voyager" (the latter meaning XC).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Waiting for an approaching 387 at Hitchin a couple of weeks ago the platform announcer added "...you lucky people will be travelling on one of our lovely, shiny, very-nearly-new trains"

FWIW I half-recall that when the 350s were very new (and there were fewer of them) you did get a Silverlink Desiro service announced.

I guess it's when you've got something to show off about.

 

[jopsuk]

One imagines that when the Class 800/801 start in service on East Coast they'll be announced as "Azuma" services (notably GWR don't seem to have announced a brand for their fleet?)

 

[pdeaves]

GWR's new 'local' electric service is advertised all over the timetables as an Electrostar service.

 

[voyagerdude220]

although I've heard the same announcement for Super Voyagers and I don't know how anyone can think they're good!

Because I for one love them.

 

[sd0733]

The screens on the platform at Runcorn always used to show 'London Midland Desiro' on the bottom row for LM services. It doesn't do it now, probably finished a couple of years ago and not seen it there or anyone else since.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Brandname for GWR fleat? How about Not At All Super Voyager?

 

[al78]

Out of interest, what is the difference in traveling experience between a Voyager and a Pendolino, and what is it about Voyagers that makes them undesirable?

 

[najaB]

Out of interest, what is the difference in traveling experience between a Voyager and a Pendolino, and what is it about Voyagers that makes them undesirable?

Please, for the sake of all that is holy, no...

 

[Matt_pool]

I once heard 'Northern Pendolino' announced on a pacer going to Man Pic

I've heard that too.

Got on the train at West Allerton and the conductor (probably the same one you had) announced "Welcome to the Northern Pendolino service to Liverpool Lime Street".

It was a 150 that had seen better days though and not a Pacer!

And I caught a train (which sadly was a Pacer) from Mossley Hill to Lime Street last week and as we were going through Edge Hill tunnels the conductor announced something along the lines of "On behalf of myself and the captain piloting this train I would like to thank you for travelling with Northern"!

 

[Sprinter153]

I tend to announce services as 'Great Western Railway High Speed Train' if it's an HST or just 'Great Western Railway' if it's a unit.

 

[ag51ruk]

Out of interest, what is the difference in traveling experience between a Voyager and a Pendolino, and what is it about Voyagers that makes them undesirable?

Different number of first class coaches and shorter train means that you might want to wait in a different place on the platform, as pointed out in a previous post

 

[Jonfun]

I think the whole "Virgin Pendolino"/"Virgin Super Voyager"/"Virgin Trains" thing is a brand for the service as much as the type of train. You used to hear announcements for "Central Citylink", distinct from "Central Trains" back in the day too.