Phil Sayer's announcements

[asylumxl]

I was also there yesterday. The stair speakers can be heard throughout the station though.

 

[thefab444]

Seven Sisters still uses an old tape recording on the Liverpool Street platform at least, must be one of the last ones left in use.

It's a very early (solid state) version of the Ditra system that Phil/Celia run on. As far as I know it's the last one left functioning, although I'm happy to be corrected.

I think southern uses Phil at most stations and Celia on the trains. I'm not sure tho.

Phil and Celia are used on Southern stations, as these are provided by Ditra. The female voice on Southern train is that of Julie Berry.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Julie Berry is on the FCC 377's as well, I was on whatever was coupled to 377503 yesterday.

Which was nice, apart from the huge bomb blast like noise that happened every 15 minutes! that scared the living daylights out of everyone!

 

[Tom C]

It's a very early (solid state) version of the Ditra system that Phil/Celia run on. As far as I know it's the last one left functioning, although I'm happy to be corrected.

Haydons Road has the tape box still in situ but unfortunately its no longer connected to the speakers however you can still preview the announcements.

 

[thefab444]

Presumably that is from the computer controlling the system?

Anyone know what the status is around the rest of the Sutton Loop; I'd foolishly assumed they were all (Funkwerk) Phil?

 

[asylumxl]

Julie Berry is on the FCC 377's as well, I was on whatever was coupled to 377503 yesterday.

Which was nice, apart from the huge bomb blast like noise that happened every 15 minutes! that scared the living daylights out of everyone!

That'd be 377501 I believe. It likes to open it's doors at random.

 

[F Great Eastern]

I never got to see it's number as I was on the back of it, and it was coupled to the other unit, but this unit had no branding on at all.

The noise was something else, huge, I thought something had hit the train first of all on top, and a few seconds later it was always followed by another a similar but slightly quieter noise.

 

[Mike Redding]

The 'Boofay' lady is used at Newbury, and i think at a few more local stations along that line. Never fails to make me laugh.

 

[Techniquest]

You mean the "Hot and cold snacks, and light refreshments, are available from the boof-a" woman? Gets on your effing pip when festering at Newbury!

What's happening to Sayer at New Street by the way? Didn't hear much of him at New Street on Tuesday, and some woman now does a lot of the announcements :cry:

 

[thefab444]

"Boof-ay", not "Boof-a".

She's better than Sayer as a voice, in my opinion, although the system she runs on - manufactured by Racal (now part of Thales) - is pretty poor.

 

[Mike Redding]

You mean the "Hot and cold snacks, and light refreshments, are available from the boof-a" woman? Gets on your effing pip when festering at Newbury!

Yep. That's her.

 

[F Great Eastern]

You mean the "Hot and cold snacks, and light refreshments, are available from the boof-a" woman?

Oh how I remember that line when I was in Ipswich every day!

 

[Techniquest]

"Boof-ay", not "Boof-a".

Same damn thing really

Still damn annoying, was so glad the HST rolled in a little early. Couldn't stand any more of that voice!

 

[Aictos]

http://www.hima-sella.co.uk/cgi-bin/scribe?showinfo=first-capital-connect-cis-funkwerk-hima-sella

Funkwerk ITK targets the eventual supply of this system to all First Capital Connect stations.

 

[Pumbaa]

"Boof-ay", not "Boof-a".

She's better than Sayer as a voice, in my opinion, although the system she runs on - manufactured by Racal (now part of Thales) - is pretty poor.

Still doesn't beat Sarah!

 

[Mike Redding]

Does anyone know who does the ones at Penrith?

 

[CMS]

I prefer the Southeastern femaile voice, 'Charlotte', although how loud she is varies by station. The only thing I don't like is her tendency NOT to announce all stations BEFORE the train has departred. Her male counterpart 'Rogeri is also very clear. 2nd favourite is 'Sarah', at Liverpool Street her announcements play 4 mins 58 secs before scheduled train departure, at Euston it's between 19 1/2 and 20 mins and at King's Cross it's as soon as the train arrives. 3rd favourite is Ruth, wish she'd announce at a London station, Phil and Celia are everywhere!!!

 

[Aictos]

The announcements on the FCC stations are setup to play 2 minutes before departure, should really make it 3 minutes though.

I think that extra minute would do wonders for dispatch - might have to suggest that, but it might cost though!

 

[CMS]

I think announcements should be put in place at Watford Junction, London Marylebone and I'd love to hear them at all stations Bushey - Queen's Park. "...Queen's Park, Kilburn Park, Maida Vale, Warwick Avenue, Paddington Underground..." I'm suprised they are even shown on the departure boards. Just type in ZBK, NWB or RMD on NRE Live Departure boards only the terminus shows up.

 

[thefab444]

I apologise in advance for the trivial nature of this post.

Headstone Lane has announcements; therefor I assume all stations from Watford High Street to Headstone Lane are fitted with them (voice is Sarah). Watford Junction and Harrow & Wealdstone seem to have some kind of old tape system still in operation, which doesn't actually give any useful information regarding train departures. Stations south of Harrow & Wealdstone are LU managed and have nothing AFAIK, although Willesden Junction does have announcements on the HL platforms only, these are fairly spartan in the information supplied (no calling patterns). Were announcements fitted to the Low Level I imagine they would be worded similarly to those at Richmond: "Platform 7 for the London Underground service to Upminster. Calling at District Line stations to Upminster, via Earl's Court".

Oh, and I guess Penrith uses the Virgin Trains announcement system (used also at Lancaster, Warrington and Wigan). For some unknown reason the list of calling points are always ended with "only". The voice is quite similar to the 'Charlotte' voice used on Southeastern.

 

[alexdodds]

I wonder who provides the automated voice for the stations run by Transpennine Express.

Also one thing i do miss on the PA systems on the ECML stations is the jingles that used to play before the announcement the one at York was my favorite. These lasted untill 2004 i think.

 

[ChrisTheRef]

TPE have the most annoying announcements of all the ones I've heard.

Yeah, Virgin's are fun, standing in Warrington "The next train at platform...THREE, will be the 12:14! Virgin Pendolino service to Glasgow Central. Calling at: Wigan North Western, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme Lake District, Penrith North Lakes, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell and Glasgow Central, ONLY!"

 

[Aictos]

I remember Leeds and Peterborough having the chimes, pity they're not used although I know they could be enabled in less then 5 minutes at Peterborough if they really wanted to!

Seeing as the software is still there to enable it...

As to the Virgin announcement, I might do a copy cat announcement later!

 

[Solent&Wessex]

The TPE system is actually the most awful system I have heard. It is voiced by a TPE employee called Rob, one of the Conductor Competence Managers actually. His voice in real life is not as bad as the announcements, but the way the system is set up is awful. The intonation is all wrong, and spacing between words makes the announcements virtually inaudible. The female voice used for special announcements is Angie, one of the supervisors at Huddersfield. You used to be able to hear her announce on the 185s as well.

The new TPE system is completely inferior to the Ditra system in use at many stations beforehand.

Of all the current systems in use, those voiced by Phil are generally the most audible no matter what type of station you are at. The system used by Network Rail at stations such as Man Picc and Leeds is the most annoying to listen to for long periods - especially when she insists on announcing "This is a safety announcement, due to today's wet weather, please take extra care whilst at this station, surfaces may be slippery" every 3 minutes all day and night even when you are in the middle of a heatwave and have had no rain for days.

West Coast used to have a wonderful system at Lancaster, and also at Wigan and Warrington until only a few years ago, which used to say "Good Morning / Afternoon / Evening, welcome to Lancaster" at the end of announcements. I used to love listening to her well spoken voice when I was at uni in Lancaster!
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It's a very early (solid state) version of the Ditra system that Phil/Celia run on. As far as I know it's the last one left functioning, although I'm happy to be corrected

Bishops Stortford appeared to have that system still working earlier on in the year when I was down there. She also used to be heard at Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale a few years ago, which I have recordings off. Sadly, she appears not to be there any more.

 

[Bayum]

The TPE system is actually the most awful system I have heard. It is voiced by a TPE employee called Rob, one of the Conductor Competence Managers actually. His voice in real life is not as bad as the announcements, but the way the system is set up is awful. The intonation is all wrong, and spacing between words makes the announcements virtually inaudible. The female voice used for special announcements is Angie, one of the supervisors at Huddersfield. You used to be able to hear her announce on the 185s as well.

The new TPE system is completely inferior to the Ditra system in use at many stations beforehand.

Of all the current systems in use, those voiced by Phil are generally the most audible no matter what type of station you are at. The system used by Network Rail at stations such as Man Picc and Leeds is the most annoying to listen to for long periods - especially when she insists on announcing "This is a safety announcement, due to today's wet weather, please take extra care whilst at this station, surfaces may be slippery" every 3 minutes all day and night even when you are in the middle of a heatwave and have had no rain for days.

West Coast used to have a wonderful system at Lancaster, and also at Wigan and Warrington until only a few years ago, which used to say "Good Morning / Afternoon / Evening, welcome to Lancaster" at the end of announcements. I used to love listening to her well spoken voice when I was at uni in Lancaster!
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Bishops Stortford appeared to have that system still working earlier on in the year when I was down there. She also used to be heard at Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale a few years ago, which I have recordings off. Sadly, she appears not to be there any more.

I've never heard her saying that at Leeds in the summer when there hasn't been any rain =/

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Actually, to be honest, she is worse for that at Man Picc and Liverpool. She announced it 3 times in 6 mins when I was there earlier, and isn't and hasn't been raining and everything is as dry as a bone. At Lime St she seems to say it continuously, regardless of what the weather is actually doing!

 

[Bayum]

I guess. There are announcements that i've heard that do make me laugh though.

This is the 08... TWELVE first, transpennine express service to Manchester airport, calling at DEWSBURY, huddersfield, Manchester PICADILLY, and Manchester, airport...

They make me laugh. And some of the annunciations are just all over the place!

 

[thefab444]

West Coast used to have a wonderful system at Lancaster, and also at Wigan and Warrington until only a few years ago, which used to say "Good Morning / Afternoon / Evening, welcome to Lancaster" at the end of announcements. I used to love listening to her well spoken voice when I was at uni in Lancaster!

Bishops Stortford appeared to have that system still working earlier on in the year when I was down there. She also used to be heard at Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale a few years ago, which I have recordings off. Sadly, she appears not to be there any more.

Yes, that woman was excellent, dates back to BR days. Prior to privatisation she said "Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening, welcome to Lancaster. Thank you for travelling Intercity/Regional Railways." She was at many 'medium/large' BR stations including Leeds, Sheffield, Southampton, East Croydon, Bromley South and Stratford.

Sadly, Stansted Airport is now Celia, and Tottenham Hale is now Sarah - good to hear that Bishops Stortford is still going strong though.

 

[37372]

The system used by Network Rail at stations such as Man Picc and Leeds is the most annoying to listen to for long periods - especially when she insists on announcing "This is a safety announcement, due to today's wet weather, please take extra care whilst at this station, surfaces may be slippery" every 3 minutes all day and night even when you are in the middle of a heatwave and have had no rain for days.

I was once at Sheffield for around 20 minutes and heard that announcement 22 times during a short spell of drizzle... After 10 minutes I was on the verge of insanity.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Yes, that woman was excellent, dates back to BR days. Prior to privatisation she said "Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening, welcome to Lancaster. Thank you for travelling Intercity/Regional Railways." She was at many 'medium/large' BR stations including Leeds, Sheffield, Southampton, East Croydon, Bromley South and Stratford.

Sadly, Stansted Airport is now Celia, and Tottenham Hale is now Sarah - good to hear that Bishops Stortford is still going strong though.

Do you know who does the SE announcements?

She gets on my nerves with that annoying voice like shes just got out of the wrong side of bed,But I like the man who does "Southern" announcements he certainly aint got a wingy voice at-all.

When I was at London Bridge there was a FCC announcement and the same man who does "Southerns" was doing it and it said "This is the" then a wingy voice come over quickly and said "First Capital Connect" and went back to normal to the "Southern" man and said the rest it was really weird.