Automated Announcements

[jon0844]

No, they've recorded an ad hoc one to speak about the new gates for 0-5, which is quite clear as it's all one recording and not made up of different segments.

 

[313103]

Still no announcement at Clapham Junction for Imperial Wharf............................... Now been one year since that station opened.

And still we have no Imperial Wharf at Clapham Junction! Amazing situation this is as it use to announce Sheperds Bush 6 months before it opened, but cant get Imperial Wharf for 15 months now and still counting. As an aside it also keeps saying that the train is formed of 3 coaches! Wrong all London Overground services are 4 coaches.

Now we are in a period of Austerity we may have to wait until those measures have been sorted before we can hear Imperial Wharf.

 

[thefab444]

There are a number of missing/erroneous clips on the SWT Ditra system; Imperial Wharf is one of them, and I shall send *another* ranty email to SWT about this.

The Southern Ditra system announces Imperial Wharf fine, so it must just be a missing file/incorrect file reference.

 

[Ibex]

Could I just ask, if anybody knows, what are the connections that are announced on the East Croydon - Milton Keynes Ctl services at Clapham Junction?

I had a right rant at SWT once to remove "Change at Watford Jn for services to Manchester Picc, Liverpool Lime St and Preston" but I don't know if it's actually been done.

Thanks!

 

[thefab444]

I remember that; "Customers for Milton Keynes Central, Northampton, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street and Preston should change at Watford Junction" was the original connection. It now just says "Customers for Northampton and Birmingham New Street should change at Watford Junction". There may be a more accurate connection for Milton Keynes as well, but because Ditra will only announce the first connection set-up for the route we'll never know!

I'll try and remember to email them tomorrow about Imperial Wharf missing, I also want them to turn the "via" announcements on for platforms 11 - 17 so things like "Guildford via Cobham & Stoke d'Abernon", "Dorking via Mitcham Junction" and "Sutton via Crystal Palace" actually get announced rather than just being on the screens. They can turn the volume up on platforms 5 and 6 whilst they are at it, these used to be fine but now you can barely hear the announcements if something is moving around in the yard. Oh, and turn standing announcements back on on platform 13 as well.

 

[londonmidland]

They've changed the announcements on the WCML for delays/ cancelations. It used to be (eg) "We are sorry that the 10:19 service to Birmingham New Street is delayed by approximately 15 mins, CrossCountry apoligizes for this late running and inconvenience caused"

Now it is "We are sorry that the 10:19 service to Birmingham New Street is delayed, please listen for further announcements, we are sorry for the delay to your journey.

Why have they done this?
(This changed quite a while back)

 

[Ibex]

London Midland don't like the word 'inconvenience'.

We were issued with briefings at work not to use the word inconvenience but I'm not entirely sure why. Fatality is also a 'banned' word for LM staff.

Here's a relatively poor recording of the new apology. click.

 

[thefab444]

London Midland don't like the word 'inconvenience'.

More likely they regret not ordering Ditra for their announcements, and are trying to convert Atos to similar wording. Would explain all the newly recorded delay reasons etc.

 

[Via Bank]

We were issued with briefings at work not to use the word inconvenience but I'm not entirely sure why. Fatality is also a 'banned' word for LM staff.

Demonstrates something of a contrast in attitude... most Southern Region systems will announce a fatality, while LU and some SWT manual announcers have been known to announce "a person under a train" or "an earlier suspected suicide at X."

How are LM supposed to announce it, then? "Incident on the line?" "Trespass on the line?" All of those seem like they'd be infuriatingly generic.

(Also, a strange quirk of Ditra is that when there's a delay due to a person under a train, it'll announce, for example, "a fatality at Fleet." However, if the train is then cancelled, it'll become "a suspected fatality at Fleet." I can sort-of understand it given the sensitivity of the subject matter, but the disparity is a bit silly.)

 

[thefab444]

SWT seem to have taken to using "police activity on the line" rather than "a fatality" recently, I haven't heard "a fatality" in about a year. Mind you, sometimes they use many different delay reasons for the same thing as you just picked up on.

 

[MCR247]

And still we have no Imperial Wharf at Clapham Junction! Amazing situation this is as it use to announce Sheperds Bush 6 months before it opened, but cant get Imperial Wharf for 15 months now and still counting. As an aside it also keeps saying that the train is formed of 3 coaches! Wrong all London Overground services are 4 coaches.

S***?! All of the /0s have become /2s already? I'm so behind

 

[Blindtraveler]

oo what a fabby, nurdy thread, love it! Woant be telling mates about this one, i'll have none left! i'm defo a ditra lover, who or whatever the voice, although find the scotrail one rather sparce when it comes to information. If they are going to roll it out further some info and updates would be good. However, if what an earlier poster says Re first group having a deal with Atos to use Mrs depressing, then the future of customer information this side of the border looks bleak..

We do need more station announcements as screens are not ideal for everyone.
I cant stand the woman at Waverley, v hard to listen to. Who is the ditra scotrail voice?

 

[Aictos]

oo what a fabby, nurdy thread, love it! Woant be telling mates about this one, i'll have none left! i'm defo a ditra lover, who or whatever the voice, although find the scotrail one rather sparce when it comes to information. If they are going to roll it out further some info and updates would be good. However, if what an earlier poster says Re first group having a deal with Atos to use Mrs depressing, then the future of customer information this side of the border looks bleak..

We do need more station announcements as screens are not ideal for everyone.
I cant stand the woman at Waverley, v hard to listen to. Who is the ditra scotrail voice?

Scottish actress Fletcher Mathers is the voice of Scotland with her announcements being used both at stations and onboard services, such a excellent choice - one hopes Anne never goes north of the border!

 

[thefab444]

Scottish actress Fletcher Mathers is the voice of Scotland with her announcements being used both at stations and onboard services

As far as I know, Fletcher Mathers is only on trains.

 

[Blindtraveler]

As far as I know, Fletcher Mathers is only on trains.

fletcher was the voice at Averley til 2004 ish, not her and other stations I dont think. Fletcher is fab on train though.

 

[Aictos]

As far as I know, Fletcher Mathers is only on trains.

I thought she was also on stations....?

 

[thefab444]

I believe she has only done on train announcements, for all of Scotrail's stock (except maybe 314s?).

fletcher was the voice at Averley til 2004 ish, not her and other stations I dont think. Fletcher is fab on train though.

I suppose that (starts at 0:45) may have been her but, but I don't think it was. Sounds too girlish to me. Better than the current drone of Juliet Donnachie though!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Juliet Donnachie has to go! What impression are we giving the tourists? They turn up expecting scots accents, bagpipes and shortbread, and instead there first impression of the capital sounds like a doctors wating room during the toncilitis clinic and at streat level, looks like the buildingsite from hell! Hope they get someone good to voice the pis on the trams in EDB, if/when they start running. There are some lovley voices around tìs city and a quick add on the radio would have got us a 100 times better voice for the Waverley PA! Not even sure why they changed it in the first place..alrite, she couldnt say First, and the odd station name but otherwise fine. Oh and whilst i'm ranting, anyone else noted the amazing difference in Juliet Donnachie's A to B route announcements?

I believe she has only done on train announcements, for all of Scotrail's stock (except maybe 314s?).



I suppose that (starts at 0:45) may have been her but, but I don't think it was. Sounds too girlish to me. Better than the current drone of Juliet Donnachie though!

 

[gogogoadam]

Hi All

Just a quick question about what is happening with the ex-Wessex replacements on FGW.

I was in Kemble a few weekends ago and the new system has been installed, however CIS screens were not working and Ruth was still going strong.

In Weston-super-Mare I haven't heard any announcements at all since the new CIS was installed.

My priorities over the next few months will be getting to Cheltenham, Gloucester and Westbury to hear Ruth's final remarks before anything gets upgraded!

Otherwise, it's trips to Wales!

Adam

 

[159jim]

Dont worry, Ruth will not be replaced, only the voices on the Ex-TT stations are getting replaced...

 

[thefab444]

Dont worry, Ruth will not be replaced, only the voices on the Ex-TT stations are getting replaced...

From what I've heard, Ruth will be completely replaced over the coming few months.

 

[Ivo]

From what I've heard, Ruth will be completely replaced over the coming few months.

I should hope so! Her announcements are, as I've advised previously, horribly inconsistent. A few examples to watch for are Keynsham (where she says "Keeeeeen", Cheltenham Spa (where she emphasises the "Spa"), Tiverton Parkway (which is very quiet), and many Welsh stations which are not said perfectly [making you wonder why ATW use her... oh wait).

I know I said I wouldn't criticise her after hearing that Bromley one, but...

 

[159jim]

From what I've heard, Ruth will be completely replaced over the coming few months.

Well, according to Mr.Rawlings, she wont!

 

[Blindtraveler]

anyone know who/what has recently been installed at glasgow central high level? Also, does the ditra at stations eg queenstreet low level know how to say the new stations on the a to b line?

 

[142]

Hi All

My priorities over the next few months will be getting to Cheltenham, Gloucester and Westbury to hear Ruth's final remarks before anything gets upgraded!

Otherwise, it's trips to Wales!


Adam

If you get to Stroud for 1505 you will hear announce "the next train at platform 1 is the Cheltenham Spa express the 1505 to London Pad" thats one that I know some have frothed over in the past.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Here are some of the ones I have put on youtube yesterday after someone asked me to. Hope you like them.

Severn Tunnel JN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgaIOf1wB1U

Swindon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y90P6ZKU3M

Parson Street http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViWIFRW-KIc

Stonehouse http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2Ugc4T5Glk

Stroud (Cheltenham Spa express bad recording) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci7qyNcvUwk

Pilning http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AvRtR9wdis

 

[louis97]

Well, according to Mr.Rawlings, she wont!

Going by the information available at the time it would seem she was staying, however more information from another reliable source has come to light in the past 24 hours... I guess we will have to wait and see. Be a shame to see her go, however it will be interesting to see what Rodger the new male voice has got to throw at us!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If you get to Stroud for 1505 you will hear announce "the next train at platform 1 is the Cheltenham Spa express the 1505 to London Pad" thats one that I know some have frothed over in the past.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Here are some of the ones I have put on youtube yesterday after someone asked me to. Hope you like them.

Severn Tunnel JN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgaIOf1wB1U

Swindon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y90P6ZKU3M

Parson Street http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViWIFRW-KIc

Stonehouse http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2Ugc4T5Glk

Stroud (Cheltenham Spa express bad recording) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci7qyNcvUwk

Pilning http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AvRtR9wdis

Thanks for those recordings!

Unfortunatley FGW removed the names from their announcements last summer, when the ruth PA was undergoing the upgrade, was a shame as i was trying to get the Adlantic Coast Express.

 

[142]

Unfortunatley FGW removed the names from their announcements last summer, when the ruth PA was undergoing the upgrade, was a shame as i was trying to get the Adlantic Coast Express.

the stroud one was last week!

 

[louis97]

the stroud one was last week!

Really Hope they are using names again now! Might have to visit Teignmouth in time for the Torbay Express sometime soon!

 

[142]

Really Hope they are using names again now! Might have to visit Teignmouth in time for the Torbay Express sometime soon!

haha one of the guards was playing with the box on one of the 150s and got it saying wessex trains

 

[philjo]

Who is the voice used at Lancaster? The announcements there are very clear (even when a voyager is stopped in the platform) & much nicer to listen to than ATOS Anne !