on board automatic announcements

[anglia.rail]

How do on board automatic announcements work?
Do companies have to programme each journey. What do they need to do to programme the PIS system?
Sometimes I have been on board and the announcement hasn't been correct, what do they do then?

 

[A-driver]

Yes, they are all pre programmed. It depends on the type of system used on that train but generally (or at least in all the units I have ever signed) you enter a 3 or 4 digit code in which tells the computer in the info system which route you want. If its gps fitted then it will find where you are on that pre programmed route and start from there which is useful for entering it half way/during disruption etc. if its done on wheel rotations then you have to manually delete the first station or stations if not starting from the usual start point or else it will announce them in the wrong order. On 365s deleting stations is very complicated and I can't even remember how to do it so we generally don't bother entering anything or just display the final destination.

More advanced units (like the 377) also allow you to remove stops during the journey so if you have to run fast you can go into a menus and delete some of the stations from the list. This isn't possible on older units as far as I know (by units I mean info system units, not the trains themselves as most older trains have more advanced systems than newer models as they have been retro fitted-317s are more advanced in terms of info systems than 365s.

If it displays wrong info then it may be that the driver has entered the wrong code by a digit. Happens occasionally on trains with an 'odd' stopping pattern.

 

[anglia.rail]

Yes, they are all pre programmed.

I have seen many incidents (some even filmed and uploaded to YouTube) where the audio announcement does not match the visual screen. As well as including all of the previous stops that the train has already stopped at. What happens then?
And thanks for all that information, it is very much appreciated and has improved my knowledge in this system.

 

[iphone76]

During the week, our 321 announced we were running 10 minutes late. Is that something the driver initiates or does it automatically know how late we are against the timetable?

 

[A-driver]

During the week, our 321 announced we were running 10 minutes late. Is that something the driver initiates or does it automatically know how late we are against the timetable?

I'd be suprised if it had a system that knew that-newer systems allow pre programmed announcements to be played by the driver so that's more likely.

 

[iphone76]

Cheers.

 

[anglia.rail]

I think if they are going to have this system it should at least be good quality

 

[Eagle]

I'd be suprised if it had a system that knew that-newer systems allow pre programmed announcements to be played by the driver so that's more likely.

Better than what the driver on a XC service I was on from Birmingham to Didcot (Reading being closed) decided to put onto the internal screens: constantly scrolling "TODAY IS YESTERDAYS TOMORROW" in lieu of any actual useful information. Leaving aside the missing apostrophe, that doesn't even make much sense—the correct saying is "today is tomorrow's yesterday".

 

[A-driver]

Better than what the driver on a XC service I was on from Birmingham to Didcot (Reading being closed) decided to put onto the internal screens: constantly scrolling "TODAY IS YESTERDAYS TOMORROW" in lieu of any actual useful information. Leaving aside the missing apostrophe, that doesn't even make much sense—the correct saying is "today is tomorrow's yesterday".

Many companies have removed the 'create your own' feature for reasons like that-there have been a fair few interesting displays in the past, that ones very mild in comparison!

 

[A-driver]

I have seen many incidents (some even filmed and uploaded to YouTube) where the audio announcement does not match the visual screen. As well as including all of the previous stops that the train has already stopped at. What happens then?
And thanks for all that information, it is very much appreciated and has improved my knowledge in this system.

Not sure exactly what you mean but on some units (including 317s) they work off GPS. If a new code is not entered or the old one not stopped then it will continue to make announcements when triggered by the GPS beacon-used to be an issue on FCC 317s as there were a number of faulty control panels so when you changed ends you couldn't do anything with the info system, not even cancel it or switch it off so the inbound one ran backwards.

 

[Eagle]

SWT Desiros (and 15xs, which use the Desiro system) still seem to have custom input, but they mainly seem to be used for splitting trains e.g. "This coach for Weymouth". Plus I've seen pictures of a 158 in service on the Lymington line with the legend "Lymington Belle".

 

[jon0844]

During the week, our 321 announced we were running 10 minutes late. Is that something the driver initiates or does it automatically know how late we are against the timetable?

I've only heard messages relating to delays very early on when FCC 317s got their new systems. Never heard since, so I assume they're manually controlled and drivers simply don't use this feature now.

365s seem to have the display and audio out of sync, as if there are two separate systems in use? Maybe one system sets them up, but they definitely look like a bit of a bodge.

A 317 announcing stations in reverse is because the system wasn't reset and it triggers at the same GPS coordinates but backwards, so the announcements for that station come just after you've passed it. It would be dead easy for the software to realise this after a couple of points passed in the wrong direction and suspend itself pending driver intervention - but I guess nobody thought of that.

Edit: And from what I've just read above, it doesn't help if a driver can't control the system from every cab! It seems to me that the whole system, including the internal and cab window displays, was a very cheap and nasty buy by National Express going by how many screens are now faulty with either no LEDs working or loads of corruption and glitching.

The audio sensors can also make the volume unbearable in some carriages or far too quiet. The ancient 365s seem to have no such problems, besides often not being enabled at all.

 

[dvboy]

350s system runs on GPS too, but I think announcements can also be triggered by the driver or conductor.

 

[Eagle]

350s system runs on GPS too.

Having been on a 350 that got stuck behind a broken-down freight train and had to reverse along the line back to the previous station to let everyone off, I can confirm this :P

 

[A-driver]

365s do use the same system for audio and visual-no separate codes. I just think some are broken if out of sync etc.

As for the delay messages etc-it's not so much that drivers don't use them, more that you need to remember all the codes and they are different on different types of traction. There are loads of pre set announcements from delays, move down inside the carriages, mind the doors to the more extreme 'this is an emergency announcement, please move to the back / front of the train' etc but by the time you have remembered the code for that announcement or got out the traction manual and had a look at the list you may as well just pick up the pa and make a manual announcment,

The only one I use sometimes is the 'a ticket check is about to take place' one if I see groups getting on who look like they don't have tickets. They often then get off again before the doors close!

 

[jon0844]

The only one I use sometimes is the 'a ticket check is about to take place' one if I see groups getting on who look like they don't have tickets. They often then get off again before the doors close!

Nice! When London had the bendy buses the Seventy-free often said about ticket inspections. Sadly, over time I think people realised it was a bluff.

Shame there isn't an announcement to say at weekends that first class isn't for people wearing track suits and intending to smoke!

 

[anglia.rail]

Not sure exactly what you mean but on some units (including 317s) they work off GPS..

Sorry should of made it clearer but that's what I meant. Thanks for your input
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Edit: And from what I've just read above, it doesn't help if a driver can't control the system from every cab! It seems to me that the whole system, including the internal and cab window displays, was a very cheap and nasty buy by National Express going by how many screens are now faulty with either no LEDs working or loads of corruption and glitching.

The audio sensors can also make the volume unbearable in some carriages or far too quiet. The ancient 365s seem to have no such problems, besides often not being enabled at all.

On you tube there are many videos on NXEA announcements, especially when it doesnt even seem to know what stops next and including all the previous stops., which can confuse passengers.
Will greater Anglia replace all these systems with ones that actually work correctly?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also how to companies decide in what voice announcement to use? There are so many.
Some stations prefer to use Phil sayer, others Anne, south west trains seem to use mainly Celia, and then south eastern use Julie berry.
Is it because some people/ voices only record certain stations, and for instance if they were to use Celia in the east Anglia region then they would have to record the calling stations using her voice?

 

[jon0844]

Could GA or indeed FCC change the system now it's installed? They would have been done (and possibly part funded by the ROSCO) so imagine the cost of stripping it all out and fitting something else?

The company that made the system should be made to replace the faulty screens as some were broken in a matter of months. I guess that since consumer law doesn't apply to businesses, it may be harder to get a company to fix things years down the line even if it is likely a design fault (for so many to fail).

 

[Manchester77]

Metrolink uses GPS which sometimes leads to inaccuracies especially when in the City Centre and the stops are closer. For example sometimes, when at Piccadilly Gardens you get the announcement you're at Piccadilly...

 

[Michael.Y]

Arriva's refurbished 158s used to use a system where if the doors were opened it assumed it had reached a station.

Cue confused looks after we had to do some red-light running, involving the driver popping out to phone the bobby at each signal. We went through three stations in three counties in five minutes.

I think it's been fixed now.

 

[mrredrunner100]

I have noticed when I am going from colchester town to colchester north (short trip I know), but when I am on mainly on 360's sometimes 321's even though I have just left colchester town the announcer system comes across saying "we are now approaching colchester town. It is always at the exact same point, and often when a train crosses on the other track (of the same class) and it is an automatic announcement. Just thought I would share this

 

[trentside]

I've experienced an issue onboard the London Midland 350s when the trains split at Northampton. I was onboard the Crewe portion which was formed of a 350/2 and the Birmingham was a 350/1 - the split caused the 350/2s system to back track and think it was starting out from Euston, advertising next stop Watford Junction. It sorted itself out by Rugby.

I find the system onboard the 375s and 377s to be fairly good at getting things right. I also like the system for dividing trains onboard the 377s as it tells you exactly what part of the train you are in and where you need to go - coupled with the carriage numbers on the information displays. Yes, it does go on a bit - but I find it easy to follow!

 

[455driver]

I was on a FGW 166 which had a door fault at Ash, so the driver and guard opened and closed it a few times before locking it out of use and we were suddenly arriving at Reading without even moving!

 

[tsr]

I was on a FGW 166 which had a door fault at Ash, so the driver and guard opened and closed it a few times before locking it out of use and we were suddenly arriving at Reading without even moving!

It's amazing how I was once able to be supposedly approaching Crowthorne all the way from Wokingham to Redhill (where the train then said it would terminate, before carrying on to Gatwick Airport in a generally passenger-carrying sort of way).

Clearly, the outskirts of the vast metropolis of Crowthorne need some considerable traversal.

 

[WCML]

Nothing can be as bad as the announcements on the Victoria line if there are delays. Was going from Euston to Vauxhall the other day and before and after each station, the wretched thing had to announce that the Victoria line was running with minor delays in a really enthusiastic voice. There's just no need for the incessant announcements about minor delays when there weren't any:

"The next station is Pimlico. Doors will open on the right hand side. Exit here for Tate Britain. The Victoria line is running with minor delays!!!"

"This is Pimlico. Exit here for Tate Britain. This is a Victoria line train to Brixton. The Victoria line is running with minor delays!!!"

Seriously does there even need to be an announcement that says that??? Not like you can do anything about it on the tube and the trains are every couple of minutes anyway. Just incredibly annoying.

 

[tsr]

Nothing can be as bad as the announcements on the Victoria line if there are delays. Was going from Euston to Vauxhall the other day and before and after each station, the wretched thing had to announce that the Victoria line was running with minor delays in a really enthusiastic voice. There's just no need for the incessant announcements about minor delays when there weren't any:

"The next station is Pimlico. Doors will open on the right hand side. Exit here for Tate Britain. The Victoria line is running with minor delays!!!"

"This is Pimlico. Exit here for Tate Britain. This is a Victoria line train to Brixton. The Victoria line is running with minor delays!!!"

Seriously does there even need to be an announcement that says that??? Not like you can do anything about it on the tube and the trains are every couple of minutes anyway. Just incredibly annoying.

I have said this before on the forums, and agree with you. You do not need to be told that the train you are on is running on time, either - something each train also feels the need to auto-announce. If these systems can be controlled remotely, why on earth can't some person with common sense restrict these announcements to those for other lines at interchanges? Then they would be rarer, probably listened to more and as a result more useful. Manual announcements of interchange line information are given on LOROL and are clear and concise. That sets a good precedent.

 

[Eagle]

Not like you can do anything about it on the tube and the trains are every couple of minutes anyway. Just incredibly annoying.

I think it only says it when the train is actually losing time, meaning that journey times increase and people will arrive at their destination later than they had planned (rather than the train just being late per se, which as you say doesn't actually matter).

Of course it is a pointless announcement; what exactly are the passengers supposed to do about it?

 

[edwin_m]

TPE specialise in some really verbose and irritating automated announcements warning of ways they can extract money from you, for example if you've chosen to walk past a ticket office (do we really need to know they comply with the national conditions of carriage?).

 

[306024]

I've experienced an issue onboard the London Midland 350s when the trains split at Northampton. I was onboard the Crewe portion which was formed of a 350/2 and the Birmingham was a 350/1 - the split caused the 350/2s system to back track and think it was starting out from Euston, advertising next stop Watford Junction. It sorted itself out by Rugby.

I find the system onboard the 375s and 377s to be fairly good at getting things right. I also like the system for dividing trains onboard the 377s as it tells you exactly what part of the train you are in and where you need to go - coupled with the carriage numbers on the information displays. Yes, it does go on a bit - but I find it easy to follow!

Assuming the Passenger Information System on a 350 is similar to a 360, if the driver has to reset the PIS after a detachment / attachment, then entering the same code will indeed back track to the start of the journey. One way round this is to have a new PIS code after the split / join.

The Southern and Southeastern system is very good, given some of the complex splitting that occurs.

 

[Eagle]

The Southern and Southeastern system is very good, given some of the complex splitting that occurs.

Although when you're on a Southern 377 between Southampton and Brighton hearing the full list of stops and that you are in coach 2 of 4 at each station (i.e. every three minutes for two hours) it starts to grate a little :x