Class 801 announcements

[LickeyIncliner]

Are the pre-recorded passenger announcements on Class 801 activated automatically or manually? I ask because yesterday evening passengers on 1S23 were told "This train is approaching Haymarket" while it was standing with doors open at Waverley. Did someone press the wrong button, or is it a GPS-based system not "understanding" that Waverley and Haymarket are very close together ?

 

[py_megapixel]

The Passenger Information System (PIS) is the on-board system responsible for these announcements as well as the displays in the carriages. I believe it works automatically by GPS.
As with any computerised system, these are unfortunately not infallible and will sometimes produce nonsense.

I've been on a couple of GWR trains which have been one station out of sync, for example.

 

[YorksLad12]

I wonder if it's a generic issue with 80x sets? I was on an evening TPE service last month; as we left Leeds we got the "We are now approaching Dewsbury" announcement. As we approached Dewsbury, "The next station is Huddersfield". Very confusing for the occasional traveller in the dark.

 

[Dave91131]

There was an issue on LNER Azuma's in the northbound direction up until a couple of weeks back (not sure if it's still ongoing as I haven't travelled since the mask requirement was reintroduced) - "we are now approaching Newark Northgate" was played upon exiting Peascliffe tunnel, which is about 8 mins south of Newark.

 

[a_c_skinner]

these are unfortunately not infallible and will sometimes produce nonsense.

60 years ago we managed to put men on the moon and we are now excusing devices that can't tell if they are in Leeds or Huddersfield. It isn't good enough. There is a culture of expecting inferior performance.

 

[LickeyIncliner]

I wonder if it's a generic issue with 80x sets? I was on an evening TPE service last month; as we left Leeds we got the "We are now approaching Dewsbury" announcement. As we approached Dewsbury, "The next station is Huddersfield". Very confusing for the occasional traveller in the dark.

Given that the GPS in even the cheapest satnav can accurately measure position to within a few metres, this and the similar GWR case mentioned in post #2 suggest that the problem is with over-simple software to choose the announcement e.g. just counting the times the train stopped, without checking where. Or in my original example, recognising that the train was a certain distance from Haymarket without recognising that it was stopped with the doors open at Waverley.

 

[800001]

There was an issue on LNER Azuma's in the northbound direction up until a couple of weeks back (not sure if it's still ongoing as I haven't travelled since the mask requirement was reintroduced) - "we are now approaching Newark Northgate" was played upon exiting Peascliffe tunnel, which is about 8 mins south of Newark.

The Newark issue they believe the issue lies with a bug within the TMS, which Hitachi and Lner are working on together.

 

[RailWonderer]

I remember this time two years ago I was on one of the first Azumas and after we left KX, the PIS announced 'We are shortly due to arrive at York', then 'We are shortly due to arrive at Newcastle', then Berwick, Edinburgh, Inverkeithing then Leuchars until the driver cut in and said he would announce them manually and turn off the PIS.

 

[contrex]

60 years ago we managed to put men on the moon

In 1961? I don't think so.

 

[Dave91131]

I've also just recalled an issue on the Hull Trains 802's that I heard during November too, in the southbound direction.

"We are now at.. Retford London King's Cross".

"The next stop is.. Grantham London King's Cross".

 

[py_megapixel]

I've also just recalled an issue on the Hull Trains 802's that I heard during November too, in the southbound direction.

"We are now at.. Retford London King's Cross".

"The next stop is.. Grantham London King's Cross".

Probably missing the recording for "This train terminates at" (or similar)

 

[185143]

I've also just recalled an issue on the Hull Trains 802's that I heard during November too, in the southbound direction.

"We are now at.. Retford London King's Cross".

"The next stop is.. Grantham London King's Cross".

"This is a Hull Trains service to Beverley. Calling at Beverley, Cottingham and Beverley" being another. And also "This is Beverley AND Beverley"!

 

[317666]

I've also just recalled an issue on the Hull Trains 802's that I heard during November too, in the southbound direction.

"We are now at.. Retford London King's Cross".

"The next stop is.. Grantham London King's Cross".

You've reminded me of when the 387/1s moved to GN. For quite a while some units said "We are now approaching Cambridge North, Gatwick Express."!