Class 180 automated announcements.

[swt class 450]

Does anyone know if the 180s have automated announcements? I always thought they did have automated announcements (voiced by Ruth i believe) but every time i have been on them recently (on all three TOCs) there hasn't been any automated announcements (although i don't really use 180s that often so they could of just been broken)? If they do have them is it on all three TOCs 180s and does anyone have any videos or sound clips? Many thanks.

 

[JN114]

They had them in their first stint with FGW, but they are disabled on the current GWR fleet. I'm unaware if Hull, Grand Central ever use the automated announcement feature. Northern did not when they were there as far as I understand.

 

[swt class 450]

They had them in their first stint with FGW, but they are disabled on the current GWR fleet. I'm unaware if Hull, Grand Central ever use the automated announcement feature. Northern did not when they were there as far as I understand.

Thanks for the info. I definitely remember the automated announcements from when they were first introduced to FGW in the early 2000s. Unfortunately i dont think i ever got any sound clips. It seems strange that GWR don't use them any more! Is it possible that the automated announcement system has been completely removed or is definitely just been disabled?

 

[JN114]

Thanks for the info. I definitely remember the automated announcements from when they were first introduced to FGW in the early 2000s. Unfortunately i dont think i ever got any sound clips. It seems strange that GWR don't use them any more! Is it possible that the automated announcement system has been completely removed or is definitely just been disabled?

Disabled. The system is integral to the TMS, it cannot be "removed".

 

[swt class 450]

Disabled. The system is integral to the TMS, it cannot be "removed".

Ah ok. That makes sense. I suppose Grand Central (who i believe are going to have the entire fleet within a few years) will probably have to reinstate automated announcements at some point? I think there is some sort of disability law (the same law that requires door release sounds etc) coming in to place in a few years which requires automated announcements on all trains?

 

[Galvanize]

I did once have a recording sent to me by somebody many years ago on my old PC, god knows if I've got it saved on a disc somewhere, probably not lol.

It was quite a long winded announcement which started along the lines of...
"First Great Western welcomes you onboard this...London Paddington...service. Calling at Bath Spa...Chippenham...Swindon...Didcot Parkway...Reading AND London Paddington."
It also gave information about priority seats, disabled toilets and baby changing facilities, quiet areas, refresca cafe bar, audio entertainment in Coach A etc. I think you got the full list of connections available on the approach to principal stations too, so there was very little for the Train Manager to say.

 

[aiden_g1]

Grand Central randomly use them from time to time. It seems to be a mixture of voices with the most common i believe to be Johnny Ball.

They seem to use the "Passengers are reminded to take extra care when carrying hot drinks" announcement as a code for being on the final approach into Kings Cross. It always pops on as you pass by the Emirates stadium. It's very random to hear at the very end of the journey when no one will be purchasing hot drinks.

 

[swt class 450]

I did once have a recording sent to me by somebody many years ago on my old PC, god knows if I've got it saved on a disc somewhere, probably not lol.

It was quite a long winded announcement which started along the lines of...
"First Great Western welcomes you onboard this...London Paddington...service. Calling at Bath Spa...Chippenham...Swindon...Didcot Parkway...Reading AND London Paddington."
It also gave information about priority seats, disabled toilets and baby changing facilities, quiet areas, refresca cafe bar, audio entertainment in Coach A etc. I think you got the full list of connections available on the approach to principal stations too, so there was very little for the Train Manager to say.

With such detailed announcements i am surprised that they are now disabled! TOCs seem to like to use very long detailed announcements nowadays! If GWR wanted to would it be easy to reinstate the automated announcements? Is it just a case of switching them back on?

Grand Central randomly use them from time to time. It seems to be a mixture of voices with the most common i believe to be Johnny Ball.

They seem to use the "Passengers are reminded to take extra care when carrying hot drinks" announcement as a code for being on the final approach into Kings Cross. It always pops on as you pass by the Emirates stadium. It's very random to hear at the very end of the journey when no one will be purchasing hot drinks.

Interesting. That seems strange that they use more than one voice. I will have to listen out for these next time that i use Grand Central services. Do you know can the Grand Central ones announce stations names and calling patterns? Or are they only used for safety announcements etc?

 

[Starmill]

The Grand Central announcements they use are new. There is one Yorkshire voice and one Geordie voice. They do announce stations as well as pointless hot drink nonsense which is spouted even when the buffet is closed. argh.

 

[aiden_g1]

Interesting. That seems strange that they use more than one voice. I will have to listen out for these next time that i use Grand Central services. Do you know can the Grand Central ones announce stations names and calling patterns? Or are they only used for safety announcements etc?

Yes. It's a female voice that will do the destination announcements. E.g "This is a Grand Central service to London Kings Cross. Calling at London Kings Cross" She has perhaps a Sunderland / North East Accent. The safety announcements will immediately follow courtesy of Johnny Ball.

 

[GW43125]

Not sure how true this is but I heard GC have/had them so when they had to tip out at FPK due to the KX blockade, they were a "Grand Central service to.............."
Couldn't say Fins Park.

 

[swt class 450]

Yes. It's a female voice that will do the destination announcements. E.g "This is a Grand Central service to London Kings Cross. Calling at London Kings Cross" She has perhaps a Sunderland / North East Accent. The safety announcements will immediately follow courtesy of Johnny Ball.

Thanks for the info. I will try to record them next time i use Grand Central services. I suppose they must have just been switched off on the few occasions that i have used Grand Central services. I presume that the Driver or Guard has an option to manually switch them on and off?

Not sure how true this is but I heard GC have/had them so when they had to tip out at FPK due to the KX blockade, they were a "Grand Central service to.............."
Couldn't say Fins Park.

Interesting. So basically you are saying they just said "this a Grand Central service to" and then went silent? I have heard something similar that Faye Dicker (GWR onboard announcements) and Rodger (GWR station announcements) are unable to announce Botley and Hedge End stations despite the fact they do both get one GWR service a day (although i am not entirely sure whether or not this has been corrected yet).

Also slightly off topic but does anyone know the name of the female voice artist who does the safety announcements on the 175s? It is Ruth who announces the stations and the calling pattern but then at some stops there is a different female voice who does an automated announcement telling you about reading safety posters etc.

 

[fgwrich]

You can just about make out the Ruth announcements in this video from 2004.

As much as I like Ruth's voice - and wish that FGW Had kept her across the west country rather than annoying Annie & Roger, I'd forgotten she had an annoying habit of announcing a certain station as 'Lluundoon Paddington'.

''First Great Western Welcomes You to this, Lluundoon Paddington Service, Calling at Bath Spa, Reading and Lluundoon Paddington''

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18x63AFdtp8

Also nice to hear the 180 working hard!

[YOUTUBE]18x63AFdtp8[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Bungle965]

You can just about make out the Ruth announcements in this video from 2004.

As much as I like Ruth's voice - and wish that FGW Had kept her across the west country rather than annoying Annie & Roger, I'd forgotten she had an annoying habit of announcing a certain station as 'Lluundoon Paddington'.

''First Great Western Welcomes You to this, Lluundoon Paddington Service, Calling at Bath Spa, Reading and Lluundoon Paddington''

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18x63AFdtp8

Also nice to hear the 180 working hard!

[YOUTUBE]18x63AFdtp8[/YOUTUBE]

Interesting that you should have such a differing opinion of him to what I do I think he is one of the better one,s I especially like how he says Penzance.
Sam

 

[aiden_g1]

I've found a clip of the current Grand Central annoucements style here - https://youtu.be/25-QBW06qb4

The train crew have the option of overiding it and often do. You will almost always have non-terminating stations announced by the guard i've noticed.

 

[swt class 450]

You can just about make out the Ruth announcements in this video from 2004.

As much as I like Ruth's voice - and wish that FGW Had kept her across the west country rather than annoying Annie & Roger, I'd forgotten she had an annoying habit of announcing a certain station as 'Lluundoon Paddington'.

''First Great Western Welcomes You to this, Lluundoon Paddington Service, Calling at Bath Spa, Reading and Lluundoon Paddington''

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18x63AFdtp8

Also nice to hear the 180 working hard!

[YOUTUBE]18x63AFdtp8[/YOUTUBE]

Brilliant video! I definitely remember those automated announcements now! They were certainly very long and very detailed especially about all of the facilities available onboard the train. They remind me a bit of the Gatwick Express class 460 automated announcements which were also very long.

Interesting that you should have such a differing opinion of him to what I do I think he is one of the better one,s I especially like how he says Penzance.
Sam

I personally think Rodger sounds far too robotic and not very natural. He pronounces some stations in a very robotic way. I dont think Anne is the best announcer either (i have heard some people say she sounds like an Essex chav). Although at least Rodger and Anne are not as bad as Acapela Rachael who is very robotic and pronounces everything wrong. I preferred it when First Great Western used Phil Sayer and Celia Drummond and Ruth for their announcements.

I've found a clip of the current Grand Central annoucements style here - https://youtu.be/25-QBW06qb4

The train crew have the option of overiding it and often do. You will almost always have non-terminating stations announced by the guard i've noticed.

Thanks for the link. I have certainly never heard those ones before. I wonder if Low Moor has been programmed in to the automated announcements for when it actually eventually opens? Also i dont suppose you know the name of the female voice artist who does these Grand Central announcements?

 

[Parallel]

You can just about make out the Ruth announcements in this video from 2004.

As much as I like Ruth's voice - and wish that FGW Had kept her across the west country rather than annoying Annie & Roger, I'd forgotten she had an annoying habit of announcing a certain station as 'Lluundoon Paddington'.

''First Great Western Welcomes You to this, Lluundoon Paddington Service, Calling at Bath Spa, Reading and Lluundoon Paddington''

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18x63AFdtp8

Also nice to hear the 180 working hard!

[YOUTUBE]18x63AFdtp8[/YOUTUBE]

Hmm, the voice doesn't sound like Ruth. It sounds like the voice that supplements Ruth on the class 175s. You can usually hear this voice as a 175 pulls into Abergavenny - First up Ruth says "We will shortly be arriving at Abergavenny" Then the second voice which is the same in this video says "Customers are advised that there is a gap between the train and the platform" and then a third voice does one about litter.

You can also hear this voice after Ruth when she announces what the next stop is going to be. I.e Ruth will say "The next stop is Hereford." Then "thank you" said in this second voice. The tone sounds too posh to be Ruth, it is probably the voice that was installed when the units were new.

--
I too like Ruth's announcements. She has a pleasant tone to her voice and the announcements aren't too slow and they cut through the sound of DMU engines well. Anne's okay but sounds robotic and slow. Roger is horrific.

 

[swt class 450]

Hmm, the voice doesn't sound like Ruth. It sounds like the voice that supplements Ruth on the class 175s. You can usually hear this voice as a 175 pulls into Abergavenny - First up Ruth says "We will shortly be arriving at Abergavenny" Then the second voice which is the same in this video says "Customers are advised that there is a gap between the train and the platform" and then a third voice does one about litter.

You can also hear this voice after Ruth when she announces what the next stop is going to be. I.e Ruth will say "The next stop is Hereford." Then "thank you" said in this second voice. The tone sounds too posh to be Ruth, it is probably the voice that was installed when the units were new.

--
I too like Ruth's announcements. She has a pleasant tone to her voice and the announcements aren't too slow and they cut through the sound of DMU engines well. Anne's okay but sounds robotic and slow. Roger is horrific.

They could of just been recorded at different times? Maybe some were added a few years after Ruth recorded the original ones? I know Celia Drummond has quite a few announcements which were recorded quite a few years apart which sound a bit different to each other. I personally think it still sounds quite like Ruth though.

The Grand Central announcements they use are new. There is one Yorkshire voice and one Geordie voice. They do announce stations as well as pointless hot drink nonsense which is spouted even when the buffet is closed. argh.

So are you saying their are three different automated announcement voices on Grand Central 180s? Two females and a male (Johnny Ball)?

 

[louis97]

Hmm, the voice doesn't sound like Ruth. It sounds like the voice that supplements Ruth on the class 175s. You can usually hear this voice as a 175 pulls into Abergavenny - First up Ruth says "We will shortly be arriving at Abergavenny" Then the second voice which is the same in this video says "Customers are advised that there is a gap between the train and the platform" and then a third voice does one about litter.

You can also hear this voice after Ruth when she announces what the next stop is going to be. I.e Ruth will say "The next stop is Hereford." Then "thank you" said in this second voice. The tone sounds too posh to be Ruth, it is probably the voice that was installed when the units were new.

--
I too like Ruth's announcements. She has a pleasant tone to her voice and the announcements aren't too slow and they cut through the sound of DMU engines well. Anne's okay but sounds robotic and slow. Roger is horrific.

I have a funny feeling this other voice on the 175s and this on the 180 are Alison Foster. I'm fairly sure its the same voice that is used on an announcement system fitted to some GWR buffets which can announce generic announcements, like luggage, etc.

I think Alison would of worked for First Group at the time First North Western and First Great Western would of started operating the 175s/185s.

 

[swt class 450]

I have a funny feeling this other voice on the 175s and this on the 180 are Alison Foster. I'm fairly sure its the same voice that is used on an announcement system fitted to some GWR buffets which can announce generic announcements, like luggage, etc.

I think Alison would of worked for First Group at the time First North Western and First Great Western would of started operating the 175s/185s.

It could well be Alison Foster who does these. That would make sense if she worked for First Group at the time.

It seems like there may indeed be three voices on the 175s (although i am not sure if all three are still used).

These two videos.

https://youtu.be/Q7RD8Kit7Hw

https://youtu.be/84-stXEIKjo

Show Ruth making the main announcement and then what sounds like a second female voice making safety announcements.

These two videos.

https://youtu.be/wKwhpMb6Wrw

https://youtu.be/qWrampxoj0U

Show ruth making the main announcement and then what is definitely a third female voice making safety announcements. I don't think the second female voice on the other two videos are in these announcements though.

I am very intrigued now! It seems like there is three voices used on the 175s? Or has the third female voice now replaced the second female voice? I am confused now!

 

[louis97]

I am very intrigued now! It seems like there is three voices used on the 175s? Or has the third female voice now replaced the second female voice? I am confused now!

I think the 3rd voice has replaced the potentially Alison Foster security announcements. I think she works at Canton, I have heard this security announcement along with the Arriva version of the safety information announcement on a GWR 150 at Christmas. She also announces to put litter in bins provided on trains and stations on the 175s approaching some stops.

 

[Sprinter153]

GWR 180s are able to play Cotswold Line automatic announcements, a couple of the more enthusiastic Oxford drivers have a list of the old codes. Working them it seems like the announcements have been replaced with blank audio files as when the screens start to display something the 'PA' light on the panel stays illuminated and won't cancel for a few seconds.

Alison Forster is still available on the full-size GWR HST buffets, again if the TM knows the code

 

[louis97]

Alison Forster is still available on the full-size GWR HST buffets, again if the TM knows the code

I know of a good few TMs at Plymouth that have a good knowledge of the codes, have heard Alison a number of times.

 

[swt class 450]

I think the 3rd voice has replaced the potentially Alison Foster security announcements. I think she works at Canton, I have heard this security announcement along with the Arriva version of the safety information announcement on a GWR 150 at Christmas. She also announces to put litter in bins provided on trains and stations on the 175s approaching some stops.

Thanks for the info. So many TOCs seem to use their employees to record automated announcements. I think Ruth is or was a Wessex Trains employee? Also do you know are those automated safety announcements that occasionally play on the unrefurbished ATW and GWR 142s / 143s / 150s / 153s / 158s voiced by Alison Foster or by Ruth or by someone else?

GWR 180s are able to play Cotswold Line automatic announcements, a couple of the more enthusiastic Oxford drivers have a list of the old codes. Working them it seems like the announcements have been replaced with blank audio files as when the screens start to display something the 'PA' light on the panel stays illuminated and won't cancel for a few seconds.

Alison Forster is still available on the full-size GWR HST buffets, again if the TM knows the code

Interesting. I have never heard these on the 180s on the Cotswold Line. Is it the same voice as when FGW originally had their 180s (as in the video posted earlier in this thread)? Or is it a new different voice?

I know of a good few TMs at Plymouth that have a good knowledge of the codes, have heard Alison a number of times.

So do these automated announcements play only in the buffet carriage? Or do they play in all carriages throughout the train?

 

[Sprinter153]

Interesting. I have never heard these on the 180s on the Cotswold Line. Is it the same voice as when FGW originally had their 180s (as in the video posted earlier in this thread)? Or is it a new different voice?

So do these automated announcements play only in the buffet carriage? Or do they play in all carriages throughout the train?

It's the original voice but it will only work if the driver inputs the code correctly. Only a few of the old hands know the codes.

The HST buffet announcements will play throughout the whole train but only the 'big buffet' vehicles have the Gaitronics keypad handset that allows it. There are four announcements, three are 'welcome aboard' announcements, one for peak time service, one for weekday daytime off peak service, and one for evenings and weekends. They reference the Refresca Cafe Bar and old coach letters so aren't really much use other than as a handy PA test if you're prepping the train.

The fourth one is a termination announcement: "Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for travelling with First Great Western. Please make sure you have all your personal belongings with you and please mind the gap when stepping from the train to the platform. Your assistance in closing the train doors behind you will be appreciated."

I like using that one in termination situations, it's handy for waking the dead

 

[louis97]

Thanks for the info. So many TOCs seem to use their employees to record automated announcements. I think Ruth is or was a Wessex Trains employee? Also do you know are those automated safety announcements that occasionally play on the unrefurbished ATW and GWR 142s / 143s / 150s / 153s / 158s voiced by Alison Foster or by Ruth or by someone else?

They are Ruth, I believe she used to work at Truro. As I said earlier over Christmas I heard a GWR 150 which had a security announcement voiced by the 3rd person on the 175s tagged on the end. The safety information had also been changed to the Arriva version of the safety information, this refers to the safety information as 'mounted between the saloon windows' instead of 'display in the passenger saloon'. Ruth is still recording new stuff too, I was at Cardiff at the weekend and heard a new announcement about a trains not being in passenger service after arriving and terminating.

 

[Parallel]

It could well be Alison Foster who does these. That would make sense if she worked for First Group at the time.

It seems like there may indeed be three voices on the 175s (although i am not sure if all three are still used).

These two videos.

https://youtu.be/Q7RD8Kit7Hw

https://youtu.be/84-stXEIKjo

Show Ruth making the main announcement and then what sounds like a second female voice making safety announcements.

In the second video link you've posted, I can hear they've used two voices.

"We shortly be arriving at Prestatyn. All of our trains and stations are no smoking areas. When you alight from the train, please do not smoke until you have left the station premises. Please remember to collect all your personal belongings and take care when leaving the train. Thank you for travelling with Arriva Trains Wales today.

Red: Ruth
Blue: Possibly Alison Foster

ATW have done a good job though. It can be difficult to tell them apart.

They are Ruth, I believe she used to work at Truro. As I said earlier over Christmas I heard a GWR 150 which had a security announcement voiced by the 3rd person on the 175s tagged on the end. The safety information had also been changed to the Arriva version of the safety information, this refers to the safety information as 'mounted between the saloon windows' instead of 'display in the passenger saloon'. Ruth is still recording new stuff too, I was at Cardiff at the weekend and heard a new announcement about a trains not being in passenger service after arriving and terminating.

150243. I'm not sure why, maybe it was a trial. Bizarrely last summer, I was on this train and it played the "in the passenger saloons" announcement with no security message after and it wasn't coupled to anything. And it did the same thing every time I used it until a couple of months later when it went back to saying "mounted between saloon windows" with the security message. Weird. Maybe a guard was having a play around with the announcements at some point.

I have once used a FGW class 158 before that had a Ruth announcement that said something like "Your attention please, the conductor will shortly be carrying out a full ticket check. Please have all tickets and railcards ready for inspection" or something like that. I assume there are a selection of announcements in ex-Wessex units that possibly only ex-Wessex guards know how to use. I've never heard it since though - It makes me curious!

 

[swt class 450]

It's the original voice but it will only work if the driver inputs the code correctly. Only a few of the old hands know the codes.

The HST buffet announcements will play throughout the whole train but only the 'big buffet' vehicles have the Gaitronics keypad handset that allows it. There are four announcements, three are 'welcome aboard' announcements, one for peak time service, one for weekday daytime off peak service, and one for evenings and weekends. They reference the Refresca Cafe Bar and old coach letters so aren't really much use other than as a handy PA test if you're prepping the train.

The fourth one is a termination announcement: "Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for travelling with First Great Western. Please make sure you have all your personal belongings with you and please mind the gap when stepping from the train to the platform. Your assistance in closing the train doors behind you will be appreciated."

I like using that one in termination situations, it's handy for waking the dead

Ah i see. So it sounds like the 180 ones unfortunately probably dont get used very often (unless you are lucky to get a driver who knows all the old codes). So on the HSTs is it mainly the buffet staff that control these automated announcements rather than the Guard?

They are Ruth, I believe she used to work at Truro. As I said earlier over Christmas I heard a GWR 150 which had a security announcement voiced by the 3rd person on the 175s tagged on the end. The safety information had also been changed to the Arriva version of the safety information, this refers to the safety information as 'mounted between the saloon windows' instead of 'display in the passenger saloon'. Ruth is still recording new stuff too, I was at Cardiff at the weekend and heard a new announcement about a trains not being in passenger service after arriving and terminating.

Good to hear that Ruth is still recording announcements. It seems strange that this third person is now on a GWR unit if she is an ATW employee. I wonder if possibly ATW and GWR use the same automated announcements software systems for their trains?

In the second video link you've posted, I can hear they've used two voices.

"We shortly be arriving at Prestatyn. All of our trains and stations are no smoking areas. When you alight from the train, please do not smoke until you have left the station premises. Please remember to collect all your personal belongings and take care when leaving the train. Thank you for travelling with Arriva Trains Wales today.

Red: Ruth
Blue: Possibly Alison Foster

ATW have done a good job though. It can be difficult to tell them apart.



150243. I'm not sure why, maybe it was a trial. Bizarrely last summer, I was on this train and it played the "in the passenger saloons" announcement with no security message after and it wasn't coupled to anything. And it did the same thing every time I used it until a couple of months later when it went back to saying "mounted between saloon windows" with the security message. Weird. Maybe a guard was having a play around with the announcements at some point.

I have once used a FGW class 158 before that had a Ruth announcement that said something like "Your attention please, the conductor will shortly be carrying out a full ticket check. Please have all tickets and railcards ready for inspection" or something like that. I assume there are a selection of announcements in ex-Wessex units that possibly only ex-Wessex guards know how to use. I've never heard it since though - It makes me curious!

They have indeed certainly done a good job! If you are not listening carefully it sounds like the same exact person! I do wonder why they got two people to record them and then mixed parts of the together? Surely it would have been more simple just to use one person?

I will listen out next time i find 150 243 somewhere. I havent been on that unit for a few years. Its amazing how many different codes and announcements there are. I never realised that certain announcements require codes in order to be played.

 

[Galvanize]

I noticed on the original video of the 180 from Bristol to Reading...the "We are now approaching" announcement seemed to be triggered quite some time and distance before the arrival at the station itself. I wonder if that's an Almost thing as the SWT 458 units and Virgin Pendolinos, the auto announcements go off quite some time before reaching the station!

 

[swt class 450]

I noticed on the original video of the 180 from Bristol to Reading...the "We are now approaching" announcement seemed to be triggered quite some time and distance before the arrival at the station itself. I wonder if that's an Almost thing as the SWT 458 units and Virgin Pendolinos, the auto announcements go off quite some time before reaching the station!

It could possibly be something to do with Alstom units. The worst i have seen was when the automated announcements on the 458/0s used to say "we are now approaching Richmond" when the train was only just passing through Wandsworth Town station! Although the new Celia Drummond announcements on the 458/5s seem to just play the announcement as the train is actually approaching the station.