Yesterday a group of four women were stood in my station for over half an hour . They stood by a sign explaining the line closures and providing alternative routes. We had announced also the changes that were in action. They went over to purchase tickets and asked me about the train times . I explained the situation and they were most upset. One said it was typical that we did not communicate at the stations and they were disgusted. The other started swearing. This is nothing new with many customers. They switch off to announcements and ignore notices. The next thing you read about it in a forum at hoe we do not produce enough information. Exactly as it was with the incident of one under a few Wednesday's ago. I announced exactly what was going on over the pa yet people say we never said what was happening? Wow why? We get slated big time and yet in these circumstances we work extremely hard and go above and beyond.
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Station announcements
- Thread starter Sherbert1
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185143
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As a passenger I completely agree with you!
That said though, I have more of an insight to the things that have to happen for trains to resume than most normals do, and I often find when people start moaning about a signal failure (for example) that (if appropriate) a brief explanation of why we will be stopped 'the driver will have to speak to the signaller to get permission to pass the red signal' or 'a train cant travel if the driver cant see the railhead in a flood as you dont know if its been washed away' often gets a response along the lines of 'oh yeah I'd never even thought of that'.
If that was made in an announcement, people would still moan there was no information given I am sure. People kicking off with traincrew/station staff is unacceptable. Full stop. It's not the drivers fault he's been sat in the middle of nowhere in a flood for a few hours is it!
That said though, I have more of an insight to the things that have to happen for trains to resume than most normals do, and I often find when people start moaning about a signal failure (for example) that (if appropriate) a brief explanation of why we will be stopped 'the driver will have to speak to the signaller to get permission to pass the red signal' or 'a train cant travel if the driver cant see the railhead in a flood as you dont know if its been washed away' often gets a response along the lines of 'oh yeah I'd never even thought of that'.
If that was made in an announcement, people would still moan there was no information given I am sure. People kicking off with traincrew/station staff is unacceptable. Full stop. It's not the drivers fault he's been sat in the middle of nowhere in a flood for a few hours is it!
philthetube
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While I agree that people do switch off to announcements a big part of the reason for this is the large number which are made, If unnecessary announcements were avoided then people would hear important ones, the airports have learnt this, why can't the railways follow.
Did you seriously ran this regards the announcements? If so please state what announcements are unnessesary . I would love to know . The ones where we state the line closures? The ones regards the weather conditions? The ones regards no skateboarding? The ones regards the alternate bus service? The ones asking you to walk to the left? I'm confused and also how often should we make announcements as the turn around is roughly ten minutes from walking into the station reaching platform and getting on tube train. I believe airports are arrive two hours before flights? How o. Earth can you make a comparison? Says me who worked at an airport for many years.
philthetube
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There is a good service operating on the ??? This shouldn't need announcing.
Minor delays ore occurring on, eg the Victoria line, nobody notices as trains are so close together.
Totally agree with you about the examples you give, they need to and should be made, however it is all the other announcements which cause people to switch off.
philthetube
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Totally agree that people should be informed if there are delays on a line, but to have repeating announcements saying that there is a good service operating on all lines just causes people to switch off, and it should go without saying. making that announcement is similar to a petrol station announcing that all their pumps are working today, people would just ignore that announcement and when another is made immediately assume that it is going to be the first one again, and therefore not listen.
If there has to be a good service announcement then their should be a red button in the control room and as soon as anything happens to change the status of the line that should be hit. To often it looks as if London Underground could not organise a booze up in a brewery as people are thrown of a defective or late running reverser while listening to a good service announcement.
If there has to be a good service announcement then their should be a red button in the control room and as soon as anything happens to change the status of the line that should be hit. To often it looks as if London Underground could not organise a booze up in a brewery as people are thrown of a defective or late running reverser while listening to a good service announcement.
LUL are the worst TOC for uneccasary pointless announcments. Both on stations and on trains. Some staff just love the sound of their own voice too much.
Any good service / minor delay shouldnt happen. Its raining and the platform is slippy, shouldnt happen. Oyster touch/ contactless payment shouldnt happen. Its all a nonsense.
The amount of train drivers on LUL who constantly announce "stand clear of the closing doors"... Why? Passengers are not expecting the doors to close ???? There is even a door closing alarm on all trains...
No wonder people switch of to anmouncments on LT, I know I do !
Any good service / minor delay shouldnt happen. Its raining and the platform is slippy, shouldnt happen. Oyster touch/ contactless payment shouldnt happen. Its all a nonsense.
The amount of train drivers on LUL who constantly announce "stand clear of the closing doors"... Why? Passengers are not expecting the doors to close ???? There is even a door closing alarm on all trains...
No wonder people switch of to anmouncments on LT, I know I do !
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
This.
I don't even bother to try to listen to announcements any more because 99.9% of the time it's the repetitive insecurity wording.
philthetube
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I am pleased someone understands what I am saying
Glad to hear that you consider yourself normal. How would you describe or consider a passenger who is not?
EM2
Established Member
Yet people ignore them, run on wet platforms, and fall.
Yet people still complain about being 'incorrectly' charged.
Yet people still gets bags, arms, feet and even heads, trapped in doors.
Exactly. Sometimes I ask myself are these intelligent commuters or are they just ignorant to safety and intent on self harm. After all I have seen many bend down to look for train and yelled out just in time. I have grabbed a women off the edge as a train was coming in . I have picked a child off the edge too. I mean really? Then the evening standard prints a feature about us being lazy in platforms ? Heaven help
Me and help me to keep
My patience at being called a dictating bitch on platform, by people who feel they know better than me.
Me and help me to keep
My patience at being called a dictating bitch on platform, by people who feel they know better than me.
philthetube
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Exactly. Sometimes I ask myself are these intelligent commuters or are they just ignorant to safety and intent on self harm. After all I have seen many bend down to look for train and yelled out just in time. I have grabbed a women off the edge as a train was coming in . I have picked a child off the edge too. I mean really? Then the evening standard prints a feature about us being lazy in platforms ? Heaven help
Me and help me to keep
My patience at being called a dictating bitch on platform, by people who feel they know better than me.
I think the "dictating bitches" and dogs on the platforms do a really good job keeping the service moving. My issues are almost exclusively with the auto announcements which put people into auto ignore.
Blindtraveler
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OK the touch in and contactless crap and the constant reminders to keep bags, belongings and mother in laws with us at all times and report suspicious whatevers to whoever get a bit anoying but the service status and upcoming works are vital as is detailed info on major disruption so to all staff keep it up thanks
Lol if we don't do the works we get press coverage about declines if we do we get complaints. I have had to travel by car to get in before any of the trains can go. I allow over two hours for my journey and I check traffic reports. I have been detoured on the a13 at 3 in the morning going home. All the posters are up at work weeks before regards planned works. Is it that when people use a car they check but when they use public transport they can't be bothered. Not to mention idiots who throw shopping trolleys ion the track and we are supposed to take being shouted at. Lol good job we are a tough bunch . Because there are a few who think we are no better than filth the way they talk to us. Lol
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