Phil Sayer's announcements

[alexdodds]

Leeds station also has a tannoy jingle for when the staff make announcements i have heard it a few times and it can be a bit scary.

Also Phil used to do Leeds station till Sarah took over when the station was rebuilt for 2002/2003.

 

[Pumbaa]

Sarah is still for me, the most audible system and works well in large terminus stations such as Man Picc and Leeds, although the system in use on LM stations is too loud sometimes. Although this can be an advantage, this morning she announced the 0850 service was 139 minutes late; the whole station burst out laughing as a result.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Leeds station also has a tannoy jingle for when the staff make announcements i have heard it a few times and it can be a bit scary.

Also Phil used to do Leeds station till Sarah took over when the station was rebuilt for 2002/2003.

Yes, they have a jingle, it is more of a tune than a jingle. I assume Man Picc has the same, but have never heard it there.

As an aside, the PA stopped working over the Platform 16 side of Leeds over the weekend. It is now working again, but the speakers 'pop', loudly, about every minute or so. It sounds like someone is being shot, and is very loud - and startles you if not expecting it!! Sounds like someone switching something on / off, but it is very loud. There also appears to be a lot of crackling and interference over that side of the station at the moment!

 

[Aictos]

Well having made a announcement today about the next departure, had a well done from a passenger who really enjoyed my announcement, said I sounded so happy!

Well seeing as the previous service came in as a 6 car and the next service was a 3 car, I think I covered the basics:

The platform
What train was I referring to
The operator of this service
What time it was going to depart the station
The calling pattern including the arrival time at London Moorgate
Advising that this is the next service from this station
Just confirm again that the xxxx is formed of the front 3 coaches only on platform x.

I know it's a tad lot but we're under orders from above to be as pro active as possible even though I can't be any more pro active on the PA!

Don't know but maybe I might take up a second career as a station announcer!

 

[thefab444]

If you do become a station announcer, please don't become one who constantly interupts the automated announcements. That is annoying, and the automated system is capable of telling pax about short formations, location of FC etc. so if possible that should be set up.

 

[Aictos]

If you do become a station announcer, please don't become one who constantly interrupts the automated announcements. That is annoying, and the automated system is capable of telling pax about short formations, location of FC etc. so if possible that should be set up.

The only time I interrupt the automated announcements is if it's giving out duff information or if there is a need for additional announcements from no smoking if needed to reassuring passengers that it is their train.

 

[garnon]

The Euston girl robot announcer has a lovely way of announcing a train "...which is ready to leave" about 3 mins before a departure.

And at Crewe, the lovely soft speaking (complete with excellent welsh pronounciation) lady....tell me that is not a robot..it can't possibly be.

 

[Bittern]

What I don't really get is at Glasgow Central, they announce the arrivial of a train from London. For example:

"07:30 Virgin Trains service from London Euston due Glasgow Central at 12:01, this service has now arrived in Platform 1."

Oh, and the guy announcing yesterday (Sept. 1st) was helluva annoying. He's very difficult to make out, and what I did (eventually) make out, he said "The *time* First ScotRail service to East Kilbride will depart from Platform 5" about six tmes in a row.

 

[class313]

The system at west Hampstead Thameslink, is very slow, for example if a train is leaving from P3, instead of P1, is goes; 'attention please, this is a platform alteration, the.......(train ready about to leave) is now departing from p3' (train now leaving), very slow, and leaves the passengers fuming. Also, who is the announcer at Newport, who does the welsh announcments, if any one knows

 

[Pumbaa]

The Euston girl robot announcer has a lovely way of announcing a train "...which is ready to leave" about 3 mins before a departure.

That would be Sarah.. Gawd bless her!

 

[philjo]

I think that FCC need to adjust the settings for Letchworth GC.
The trains that start there come out of the sidings, often about 7-10 minutes before departure depending on when the line is clear for the points to be set.
As soon as the train arrives in the platform, the train is announced, but the system does not repeat it, so there is often an announcement at about 07:12 for the 07:20 departure which has now arrived but no further announcements are made for anyone arriving at the platform nearer the time of departure. It should be set to repeat 2-3 minutes before departure.


As an aside, I think that someone has got the wires crossed at Hitchin.
since late last week the newer displays at the london end of the platforms is showing the departures for the wrong platform. on platform 1 (southbound) it is showing trains to Cambridge/Peterborough. platform 2 (northbound) is showing the Kings X trains.
the other displays further down the platform are still showing the correct information.

 

[Aictos]

Above issues at Hitchin and Letchworth being dealt with by FCC, so don't worry!

 

[Lampshade]

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

Tell me about it, I swear they recorded every word in the English language independently of each other.

 

[jon0844]

Maybe FCC can re-record all the announcements by the voice artist* that does the 'no smoking' announcement... it's so clear and well spoken.

I wonder why that hasn't been re-recorded as it sounds like it was done in 'one take' and someone has kept it for some sort of in-joke.



* Sounds like some 16 year old work experience guy who can't read or write.

 

[317666]

I hate 'Sarah'! Phil Sayer is the best! Exeter St Davids has him on Platforms 3 and 4, and 'Digital Dorris' on other platforms. I think the closest match to the announcers at Whittlesford Parkway and Cambridge (possibly others too) is 'Boofay'. Ely has manual announcements, due to the complexity of North Junction I reckon.

 

[Aictos]

Maybe FCC can re-record all the announcements by the voice artist* that does the 'no smoking' announcement... it's so clear and well spoken.

I wonder why that hasn't been re-recorded as it sounds like it was done in 'one take' and someone has kept it for some sort of in-joke.



* Sounds like some 16 year old work experience guy who can't read or write.

I tell him that next time I speak to him, he's actually one of the guys who works on the CIS desk in control. Then again, I was hoping to be allowed to record a announcement....

 

[dan_atki]

The more I read of this topic the more I get concerned that the GN Ditra is substandard compared to others. There is a 'No Smoking' announcement in the sytem recorded by Phil and Celia so I see no reason why recorded manuals (as I call them) are being done for what's already there... unless it isn't and the system is, as I say, substandard.

Then again, saying that, SWT use a recorded manual for no smoking too and it was temporarily changed a few months ago from a woman to a man who said 'smoking is not permitted on all South West Trains services or stations'. I suspect the inproper grammar* in what he said was the reason it got changed back to the woman.

[picky]
* 'all' in the above sentence should be 'any' and consequently it could then be argued that 'services' and 'stations' should be made singular rather than plural.
[/picky]

 

[jon0844]

I tell him that next time I speak to him, he's actually one of the guys who works on the CIS desk in control. Then again, I was hoping to be allowed to record a announcement....

Tell him to record it again then, as it's terrible - a quiet, monotone, mumble that sounds like it was a test that someone accidentally made live - and nobody has noticed!

There's another person that often passes on live running information, who would have been perfect. Actually, the man who spends his life at Potters Bar telling passengers that the train will stop further down the platform would be a contender too!

And I'm sure you have a lovely voice too.

 

[Aictos]

Why thank you, I do try my best!

Having said that, I really ought to get some of my announcements recorded and then we might be able to have a little competition here - what do you guys think?

 

[Solent&Wessex]

When I used to do manual announcements at Huddersfield, I always used two favourite expressions of mine which I got from elsewhere...

1) I used to start Manual announcements with "Good Morning / Afternoon / Evening" to attract attention - just like an announcer used to do at Lancaster that I used to often hear when I went there to uni.

I have a copy of an old British Transport Commission guide for station announcers, which is packed with amusing information. It states that all announcements should start with "Train Announcer Calling", so as to attract passengers attention as they never listen to first few seconds. Didn't think that sounded appropriate nowadays, so used Good Morning etc instead. Having said that, I did it once for a laugh when I was making a remote announcement at Dewsbury - the girls in the booking office phoned up to ask what the hell I was on about!

2) When apologising for a delay, I would always say at the end ".... [insert name of TOC] would like to apologise for keeping you waiting." I used to love that expression, which a female announcer at Man Picc always used to say when they had manual announcements before Sarah was installed.

 

[philjo]

The West Indian man who used to work at Welwyn Garden City until he retired often made some amusing announcments.
Once in WAGN days there were some severe delays to London bound peak hour services in the week before Christmas.
He made some comment about the fact that most people travelling would be going to Christmas parties that day, so he hoped that the delay wouldn't ruin their Christmas ! Cue collapse of passengers on the station!

 

[TheWalrus]

I always preferred it at Bristol Temple Meads, when the announcements were performed by Phil Sayer, instead of the female voice which replaced him a few years back. (It's not the same woman who does stations like Manchester Picc, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street etc.)

The enthusiastic tone of voice which Phil Sayer pronounces 'London Midland' in always amuses me at Birmingham New Street, probably because he's incredbily impressed and surprised that his next few words are "has been cancelled"

Yh he's the best I have heard, unlike the woman that does the SWT ones at Exeter St D :@ "col-ling-at" lol!

 

[thefab444]

The more I read of this topic the more I get concerned that the GN Ditra is substandard compared to others. There is a 'No Smoking' announcement in the sytem recorded by Phil and Celia so I see no reason why recorded manuals (as I call them) are being done for what's already there... unless it isn't and the system is, as I say, substandard.

Is there a general no smoking announcement on Ditra? I know there is the one about "Smoking is not permitted on this station. Please extinguish all cigarettes", but maybe the TOCs think that is for usage only when somebody has been spotted smoking?

To be honest, the recorded manuals are better than the (rather ill-sounding) Ruth recording used by the SEMA FGW stations... "Orl our trains an stayshuns are no smoking areeeahs. Please do not smoke until you have left the stayshun premises."

 

[CJ]

I am rather upset that there trying to get rid of him out of Birmingham New Street for that woman (dont know who shes called). i would've prefered it if it was the woman (dont know hers either ) who does it at Manchester Piccadilly, Sheffield and Leeds.

but Phil Sayer is definitely the best station announcer out of them lot.

 

[dan_atki]

Is there a general no smoking announcement on Ditra? I know there is the one about "Smoking is not permitted on this station. Please extinguish all cigarettes", but maybe the TOCs think that is for usage only when somebody has been spotted smoking?

I'm not sure if there's another but it's not hard for an operator to cut the last bit off just by clicking their mic's button at the time .

Funkwerk does have a 'May I remind you that smoking is not allowed anywhere on this station' and ATOS a 'xxx is a no smoking station. Please refrain from smoking' or similar.

Still, I miss the King's Cross Thameslink one most: 'Customers are reminded that King's Cross Thameslink is a no smoking station. Please extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. If you wish to smoke, please leave the station'. Although it's about four odd years since I last heard it, and nowhere else has* the final bit about leaving the station!

*Ditras probably do still have it - just the announcement isn't set up to say that.

 

[thefab444]

ATOS a 'xxx is a no smoking station. Please refrain from smoking' or similar.

I think that one is only used at Manchester Piccadilly; the majority of ATOS systems use "Passengers are reminded that smoking is prohibited at all stations and on all train services". You'll be glad to hear that the "Parents and guardians are reminded that the station can be a dangerous environment..." announcement has been getting a lot more airing recently - it was playing every 30 minutes at Southampton Central the other week!

 

[Mojo]

'Sarah' at London Midland stations often announces "for your safety and comfort, this station is non smoking" or something like that.

 

[dan_atki]

You'll be glad to hear that the "Parents and guardians are reminded that the station can be a dangerous environment..." announcement has been getting a lot more airing recently - it was playing every 30 minutes at Southampton Central the other week!

Me thinks the SWT Ditra-chief (should they exist) found the option a few months ago! Maybe some more unusual stuff will be found soon...

 

[bengley]

I don't know if I'm the first to notice this, but Phil has been installed at Aylesbury and Aylesbury Vale Parkway stations. Now they just need to put announcements in at Marylebone!

 

[thefab444]

Me thinks the SWT Ditra-chief (should they exist) found the option a few months ago! Maybe some more unusual stuff will be found soon...

Well, whatever the case, they soon stopped it playing automatically.