Oxymoronic announcements

[pdq]

Just spotted this at Huddersfield. Apparently the cancelled 1650 service has 3 carriages...

The top row shows the service with the departure time replaced with 'cancelled'. The 2nd row has the calling points scrolling, followed by 'This train has 3 carriages'
Any other examples of contradictory announcements and displays?

 

[CC 72100]

Not really the same, but is always amusing when a 'via' point is put into station CIS, only for that train to get terminated short at the 'via station'.

"Edinburgh via Birmingham New Street" becomes "Birmingham New Street via Birmingham New Street"... well fancy that?

 

[AlexNL]

Here in the Netherlands, there is a service called "Intercity direct" which runs Breda - Rotterdam - Schiphol - Amsterdam using the high speed line. Between Rotterdam and Schiphol, passengers have to pay a supplement (like the HS1 supplement).

The CIS indicates that a supplement is due between Rotterdam and Schiphol. So far, so good, but the CIS also indicates this when you're at Rotterdam waiting for a train bound for Breda.

 

[Mag_seven]

The screens at Paddington as well as continuing to show the calling points of a cancelled train also continue to display other aspects of the train such as the number of coaches, position of the first class coaches, catering information etc all in the present tense!

 

[Parallel]

"We are sorry to announce that the 19:10 Great Western Railway service to Cardiff Central is delayed by approximately 36 minutes. This is due to congestion caused by earlier delays."
followed immediately after by...
"To ensure a timely departure, train doors may be locked shut up to 40 seconds before departure time"

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Just spotted this at Huddersfield. Apparently the cancelled 1650 service has 3 carriages...
View attachment 43570
The top row shows the service with the departure time replaced with 'cancelled'. The 2nd row has the calling points scrolling, followed by 'This train has 3 carriages'
Any other examples of contradictory announcements and displays?

I've noticed a few weird ones at TPE stations recently, including at Huddersfield about an hour later. In particular services which are running as 6-car part of the way, but with only 3 doing the full journey. A Newcastle service which drops 3 cars at Leeds is listed as to "Newcastle and Empty to Depot". Whilst I can see the reasoning for explaining that only 3 go beyond Leeds, it isn't necessary to tell us what the other 3 are doing if they're not going to be in service. As the whole thing doesn't fit on one line, if you look up at the moment that "& empty to depot" is displayed, one might assume that the service is being cancelled from that point. I've seen similar things at York relating to TPE services.

This example isn't oxymoronic, it's just moronic!

 

[joncombe]

Something I've seen from time to time on the SWR information displays is something like this

1st 12:05 London Waterloo 12:12
2nd 12:10 London Waterloo On Time

Well clearly if the 1st train is late and the 2nd train is on time, the 2nd train is in fact the 1st train (if that makes sense!)

 

[Tracked]

I was at Chesterfield this afternoon, there was a lengthy announcement about a person being hit by train, all the lines to Nottingham being closed until further notice, and Network Rail working to reopen the lines but without an estimated time for reopening.

Then a short pause, less than five seconds long, followed by an automated:

"The next train at platform 2, is the 15:22 to Nottingham, calling at Alfreton, Langley Mill, and Nottingham" ...

[edit]Have just looked, and to be fair the 15:22 made it to Nottingham on time

 

[AlexNL]

Another Dutch CIS oddity: when there's a disruption, the CIS shows a reason. However, the system has difficulties combining this with timetable alterations.

For example, let's take the intercity service from Schiphol to Nijmegen. Due to engineering works it may be curtailed to Arnhem. If a train on this route suffers a 20 minute delay (due to e.g. a signalling failure) the CIS at Utrecht will display "delayed due to engineering works".

 

[Taunton]

"Due to earlier late running ..."

 

[61653 HTAFC]

"Due to earlier late running ..."

That's a good one! Of course it should be something like "due to a delay to a previous service".

 

[Crossover]

The system at Leeds surpassed itself last night. The 2112 to York was running almost an hour late. Train arrives on platform 12D, boards and locks up. The announcement is going on about this 2112 service, calling points etc. Train pulls out, the front of the train by now probably beyond the signal "For anyone wishing to travel on this train, please join now as it is ready to leave *back of train beyond signal*. Platform 12D for the 2112 TransPennine Express service to York". *pause* "This is a platform alteration. The 2112 TransPennine Express service to York will now depart from platform 12B/D" (I couldn't tell if it said B or D by this point, besides, the train was half way to York!)

 

[robbeech]

I was at Chesterfield this afternoon, there was a lengthy announcement about a person being hit by train, all the lines to Nottingham being closed until further notice, and Network Rail working to reopen the lines but without an estimated time for reopening.

Then a short pause, less than five seconds long, followed by an automated:

"The next train at platform 2, is the 15:22 to Nottingham, calling at Alfreton, Langley Mill, and Nottingham" ...

[edit]Have just looked, and to be fair the 15:22 made it to Nottingham on time

I believe the incident was the other side of Mansfield Junction / Lenton South Junction . I left NOT on 2W18 (1526 to Worksop) and we left a couple down but had no further issues up that way.

 

[LLivery]

Something I've seen from time to time on the SWR information displays is something like this

1st 12:05 London Waterloo 12:12
2nd 12:10 London Waterloo On Time

Well clearly if the 1st train is late and the 2nd train is on time, the 2nd train is in fact the 1st train (if that makes sense!)

You see similar on the Southern network too:

1st 1830 London Bridge Expected 1834
2nd 1834 London Bridge On Time

On the Sydenham corridor, you'll often get a train cancelled several hours ago still showing as "first"

1st 1234 West Croydon cancelled (never an apology from LO)
2nd 1400 London Victoria On Time

 

[northernchris]

I remember seeing on the screens in Leeds a Sheffield via Castleford service only for the row below to show 'above service not calling at Castleford today'

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've noticed a few weird ones at TPE stations recently, including at Huddersfield about an hour later. In particular services which are running as 6-car part of the way, but with only 3 doing the full journey. A Newcastle service which drops 3 cars at Leeds is listed as to "Newcastle and Empty to Depot". Whilst I can see the reasoning for explaining that only 3 go beyond Leeds, it isn't necessary to tell us what the other 3 are doing if they're not going to be in service. As the whole thing doesn't fit on one line, if you look up at the moment that "& empty to depot" is displayed, one might assume that the service is being cancelled from that point. I've seen similar things at York relating to TPE services.

This example isn't oxymoronic, it's just moronic!

I think that may be because they are using "empty to depot" as a destination. The & formation (e.g. "Birmingham New St &" "& Northampton") is fairly standard for a split to two destinations / where part of the train terminates short, but, er, GIGO[1].

[1] Garbage In Garbage Out

 

[BucksBones]

"Due to earlier late running ..."

Yes that’s a particularly meaningless phrase. Where do you draw the line? “We apologise for the delay to this service; this has been caused by a delay to the inbound service due to earlier delays...”etc. Heard far too often!

 

[JW16]

"...calling at [station A] and [station B] only."

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes that’s a particularly meaningless phrase. Where do you draw the line? “We apologise for the delay to this service; this has been caused by a delay to the inbound service due to earlier delays...”etc. Heard far too often!

That can be useful on occasions particularly when it relates to flying - late arrival of the inbound aircraft at least means it probably isn't sat outside having gone tech and going nowhere any time soon.

 

[Bletchleyite]

"...calling at [station A] and [station B] only."

Yeah, one of the systems says that and it's annoying - "only" is meant to be used for a single calling point...er...only.

 

[AndyPJG]

A couple of years ago at Weymouth, "Please stand back from the platform edge as the approaching train is not scheduled to stop here".

Admittedly it was ECS but the buffer stops still hurt!

 

[philthetube]

The screens at Paddington as well as continuing to show the calling points of a cancelled train also continue to display other aspects of the train such as the number of coaches, position of the first class coaches, catering information etc all in the present tense!

Don't mind the calling points, if I am going to an intermediate station I may not know the final destination or the train.

Sh stock trains at Chalfont and Latimer announce that this train is calling at all stations to Chesham, I would love to see the list, it should be blank.

 

[Parallel]

I've heard "The next train to arrive at Platform 2 is not in passenger service. Please do not board the next train at Platform 2."

This was Shrewsbury.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Chester has this curious method of showing arrivals and departures as separate trains, eg:
1st: 1212 London Euston Terminates Here. Exp On Time.
2nd: 1235 London Euston calling at Crewe etc.
This is for the same physical Virgin 221.
I've noticed this at a few other stations, but it is by no means the norm.

 

[pdq]

Just realised the additional nonsense of the fixed 'calling at' text when referring to a train that won't be calling anywhere.

The other text that annoys me is when due is used in place of expected for late trains. Its due time doesn't alter from the timetable but its expected time might.

 

[stut]

Yes that’s a particularly meaningless phrase. Where do you draw the line? “We apologise for the delay to this service; this has been caused by a delay to the inbound service due to earlier delays...”etc. Heard far too often!

It is a wholly unsatisfactory explanation. But you do have to draw a line somewhere.

Ladies and gentlemen, the 1214 service to Peterborough will be delayed by approximately 20 minutes. This is due to, well, Phil, the driver, had a nightmare journey in. Not only was the road flooded, he got a flat tyre and the AA couldn't get through because of the flood. Bob, the relief driver, had called in sick, so there wasn't much we could do l, but Phil got it sorted and made it in and got the train out 15 minutes late. Picked up 5 minutes on the way too, but the pathing was terrible earlier on, what with Virgin having a moody HST knocking about, and some reports of cows wandering about up Newark way. Nearly had it, but then there was some massive argument between two groups skunked up teenagers at the Nidge who decided to block the doors while doing so and then we lost all chance of getting here on time.

Um, I mean "this service is delayed due to a late inbound service".

 

[BucksBones]

That can be useful on occasions particularly when it relates to flying - late arrival of the inbound aircraft at least means it probably isn't sat outside having gone tech and going nowhere any time soon.

Ah yes, I hadn’t thought of that angle.

Yeah, one of the systems says that and it's annoying - "only" is meant to be used for a single calling point...er...only.

Yes but I can see the reason behind it; it’s solely to distinguish a stopper from a fast service using a key word to make people’s ears prick up! Not grammatically perfect but a reasonable way to emphasise a point I’d have thought.

It is a wholly unsatisfactory explanation. But you do have to draw a line somewhere.

Ladies and gentlemen, the 1214 service to Peterborough will be delayed by approximately 20 minutes. This is due to, well, Phil, the driver, had a nightmare journey in. Not only was the road flooded, he got a flat tyre and the AA couldn't get through because of the flood. Bob, the relief driver, had called in sick, so there wasn't much we could do l, but Phil got it sorted and made it in and got the train out 15 minutes late. Picked up 5 minutes on the way too, but the pathing was terrible earlier on, what with Virgin having a moody HST knocking about, and some reports of cows wandering about up Newark way. Nearly had it, but then there was some massive argument between two groups skunked up teenagers at the Nidge who decided to block the doors while doing so and then we lost all chance of getting here on time.

Um, I mean "this service is delayed due to a late inbound service".

Again, a good point well made. I won’t get annoyed about that announcement again, I promise!

 

[700007]

The 1st 8 minutes and 2nd 2 minutes thing is something you always get at Clapham Junction!

There was a video a few years ago of a SWT on board system saying at the usual 100mph

'This is Clapham Junction. This train is for London Waterloo. The next station is Clapham Junction'

 

[pdeaves]

The other text that annoys me is when due is used in place of expected for late trains. Its due time doesn't alter from the timetable but its expected time might.

I agree. I point that out so often to my wife that she starts nodding and rolling her eyes at me straight away now!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I think that may be because they are using "empty to depot" as a destination. The & formation (e.g. "Birmingham New St &" "& Northampton") is fairly standard for a split to two destinations / where part of the train terminates short, but, er, GIGO[1].

[1] Garbage In Garbage Out

That's it though- if the other set was going to Hull for example, it'd make sense to tell passengers. Nobody needs to know it's going to the depot, and the ECS move should really be a separate "service" for want of a better word, so shouldn't be finding it's way onto a passenger-facing system.