"Station Stops"?

[WestCoast]

The funny one is on VWC when they say we're on the approach to (Wigan North Western)... cabin crew doors to manual?

It does make sense, although it is a little airline-esque. I've noticed quite a bit of aviation-style terminology is creeping onto the railways.

 

[O L Leigh]

Why not just "stop", as in, "the next stop is Doncaster", or "the next station is Doncaster"? I know trains can stop outside of stations but there is still no need to include the "station" before it.

Because the next stop could be at a signal some distance short of the next station. (Apologies if anyone else has already pointed this out.)

O L Leigh

 

[Striker]

Because the next stop could be at a signal some distance short of the next station. (Apologies if anyone else has already pointed this out.)

O L Leigh

But people managed before the bizarre phrase "station stop" began to seep into the vocabulary. And that was when most trains had slam shut doors.

OK then. Why are ticket barriers now referred to as "revenue protection barriers"? Utter madness!

 

[Lampshade]

OK then. Why are ticket barriers now referred to as "revenue protection barriers"? Utter madness!

To make them sound more officious and intimidating to fare dodgers.

 

[O L Leigh]

But people managed before the bizarre phrase "station stop" began to seep into the vocabulary. And that was when most trains had slam shut doors.

Well to be honest, I don't refer to "the next station stop" either. It sounds wrong to me too. But then some TOCs have set scripts that they expect their staff to use.

OK then. Why are ticket barriers now referred to as "revenue protection barriers"? Utter madness!

Not where I work, and that applies to the PIS too. Sonya, as I call her (because she gets on ya nerves), calls them "automatic ticket barriers".

O L Leigh

 

[strange6]

I'm not questioning whether people know what the announcements mean. Of course they know what they mean. My point is that the words they use make the announcements clumsy, cumbersome and overly verbose.

Then I think we should all make guards take a minimum of 'A' level English Language

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Some conductors Ive had have had a very good sense of humor (one went: "Good morning this is your capitain speaking welcoming you aboard the xx:xx (TOC) service to (place)." in the style of a airline pilot) or give nicknames to Places (Smelly Galton Bridge for one example)

 

[stut]

Isn't "station stop" an old, rather than new phrase? (As opposed to "whistle stop", "flag stop", etc)

For example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ9U4Cbb4wg#t=38s

 

[Crossover]

Another common one I have heard is "next station call"
Actually, it sounds better than "next station stop", though I think on the approach to works quite well (unless we are virtually on the platform when they bother annoucing it, but that is besides the point)

I was on the Churnet Valley Railway the other week and they had loads of announcements on there, very much done in the style of the mainline. They made it clear not to attempt to alight until the train had fully stopped and was in the platform. That said, on their stock I don't think they have anything such as CDL.

Not heard the ATW announcements properly for while (heard it last week on a 158 but it was packed so couldn't really understand it and the 175 was mostly manual, though I remember an announcement ending "Thank You")

XC Voyagers show principal stations (only on the displays) but it also shows all of them in experience. VT Pendos are the worst with the way it announces stuff!

 

[flymo]

I don't really mind the 'station stop' thing to be honest. When did this first start I wonder?, certainly in the late 80's, early 90's I had heard this mainly in Devon and Cornwall.
Best announcements ever for me were heard on my first trip to Cornwall - on an HST from Newcastle. The guard working the train forward from Plymouth simply picked up the mic, said the name of the station we were approaching or even stopped at in one case and nothing else. Simply "Liskeard" or "Lostwithiel" and as I was in the TGS near the guards compartment, even "Truro" - mic gets rather robustly reseated in it's holder followed by a non-too-muffled. "That's all you're getting" followed by the PA unit (was it a 'Ripper' unit or something) being switched off.
Marvellous.

 

[All Line Rover]

At Whitchurch station (operated by ATW), which has recently had Passenger Information Screens and an automated announcement system installed (I will create a thread about these improvements soon), the woman who does the automated announcements sounds very clunky. She's not as bad as the "Microsoft Screen-Reader", but she must have a very limited vocabulary.

For example: "The train approaching Platform 2 is the 08:06 service to Man-Chester Piccadilly. Calling at Nant-Witch, Crewe, Wilmslow, Stock-Port and Man-Chester Piccadilly. This train is currently on time."

It's as if Arriva haven't recorded all of the station names, and instead have to merge different sounds to create them! The worst is Manchester Piccadilly, which she pronounces as Man-Chester Piccadilly (as in "a human Man" and "the City of Chester")! I'm starting to pronounce it "Man-Chester" myself!


Virgin isn't too bad. The automated announcements only operate on selected Pendolinos on the Euston>Birmingham and Euston>Manchester routes (I don't think it operates on the Euston>Liverpool route, as it's never on the 21:07 from Euston).

The only stupid thing about the Virgin announcements is this: "Welcome aboard this Virgin Trains service to... London Euston. Calling at Stockport, Wilmslow, Crewe, Milton Keynes Central." (What about London Euston!? )

Maybe Virgin think it's stupid to say "we will be calling at London Euston", when they have already announced that "this is a Virgin Trains service to London Euston." Nevertheless, announcing London Euston twice just sounds better: "Welcome aboard this Virgin Trains service to... London Euston. Calling at Stockport, Wilmslow, Crewe, Milton Keynes Central and... London Euston."


One other thing I've noticed is that at Kings Cross St Pancras Underground Station, they actually use the "Microsoft Screen-Reader" to announce future engineering works! It's sounds appealingly bad! "Ladies and Gentle-Men..."

 

[Yew]

maybe they should this guy for announcements http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8JsvwUcok0

This Post is Now Diamonds!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

ATW announcements are very strange indeed.....
Although, the chime is quite pleasant before certain announcements....

Every time my wife hears the ATW chimes, she thinks of the "Welsh Connection" with Gladys Pugh and her xylophone in the "Hi-di-Hi" series.

 

[tom1649]

There is/was an ATN guard who used to come up with all sorts of rhymes on his announcements.

A favourite of mine was "At Meadowhall we are stopping where you can go and do your shopping!"

Other times we'd get 'Anyone for Barnsley?? We're 'ere!"

I was told that on the approach to Kirton Lindsey, he'd make some comment about Lindsey's curtains.

Anyone else familiar with this chap?

 

[Fincra5]

I have to admit I say "...station stop." every now and again. It just seems to roll off the tongue better that "...station."

My 'style' of announcements changes all the time

Some conductors Ive had have had a very good sense of humor (one went: "Good morning this is your capitain speaking welcoming you aboard the xx:xx (TOC) service to (place)." in the style of a airline pilot) or give nicknames to Places (Smelly Galton Bridge for one example)

I have been so tempted to do that. Might just have to on a non-commuter (no sense of humor allowed on Peak Trains...) train.

 

[Pumbaa]

Virgin isn't too bad. The automated announcements only operate on selected Pendolinos on the Euston>Birmingham and Euston>Manchester routes (I don't think it operates on the Euston>Liverpool route, as it's never on the 21:07 from Euston).

What a load of nonsense. Firstly just because you've never heard it on the 2107 doesn't mean it can't exist.

Secondly, all stations are pre-loaded and the voice syntax downloads with the seat reservation details, service ID, train reporting number and calling pattern prior to departure. It is down to individual TM discretion whether or not they use the auto-announcer.

The TMs who use tend to be those who initiate ticket checks between Manchester and Crewe/Stoke, and Birmingham to Coventry; it is one less thing for them to worry about while chasing up tickets.

 

[All Line Rover]

What a load of nonsense. Firstly just because you've never heard it on the 2107 doesn't mean it can't exist.

Secondly, all stations are pre-loaded and the voice syntax downloads with the seat reservation details, service ID, train reporting number and calling pattern prior to departure. It is down to individual TM discretion whether or not they use the auto-announcer.

The TMs who use tend to be those who initiate ticket checks between Manchester and Crewe/Stoke, and Birmingham to Coventry; it is one less thing for them to worry about while chasing up tickets.

Why do stations need all of that information?

Have they recently installed bar stools on the Euston concourse? I can't see any, and I'm looking at the concourse right now!

Super Voyagers don't have automated announcements. And perhaps Liverpool route TM's simply don't like them!

 

[exile]

German train managers give the following information
- principal connecting trains from the station you're approaching (ie go to platform 7 for the 16:15 for Munich)
- whether to get off on the left or the right
in German and English!

 

[12CSVT]

My pet hate travelling on the Cardiff-Manchester line is the automatic woman saying "principal stations". Why?? (She refers to all stations as "principal", not just, say, the major ones..)

Does that mean the announcements omit Wem, Prees, Yorton etc ?:?

 

[Waverley125]

It's a job I would actually like to do.

Good evening ladies and Gentleman, and welcome aboard the 18:40 East Coast service to London Kings Cross. My name is James and I will be your Crew leader for today's journey, during which we will call at Wakefield Westgate, Doncaster, Retford, Newark Northgate, Grantham, Peterborough, Stevenage and London Kings Cross, where our arrival time is approximately 21:10, that's ten past nine this evening.

First class accommodation is located in coaches K, L & M at the front of the train, standard class in coaches B to H at the rear. Coach H is the buffet bar, which will open shortly after departure serving a wide range of hot and cold sandwiches, snacks, drinks and alcoholic beverages, and an at seat service is available for first class passengers.

Passengers please be aware that standard and first advance tickets are valid only for the service named on your ticket, please check any advance tickets to ensure they are valid on this service. A full ticket check will commence on departure from Leeds, and any passengers travelling without a valid ticket will have to purchase a new full-fare ticket for your journey.

The train is now ready to depart, can anyone on board not wishing to travel please make your way back to the platform as the doors are about to close. Once again this is the 18:40 east coast service to London Kings Cross. Our first calling point will be Wakefield Westgate, in approximately 12 minutes time.

 

[All Line Rover]

Does that mean the announcements omit Wem, Prees, Yorton etc ?:?

No, she announces them straight after without a pause, like this:

"We will be calling at... Nantwich.. Whitchurch and.. Shrewsbury.. Wrenbury.. Prees.. Wem and.. Yorton.. are request stops. Please inform the conductor if you wish to alight at these stations."

She implies that all stations are request stops!

 

[Lineside]

It's a job I would actually like to do.

Good evening ladies and Gentleman, and welcome aboard the 18:40 East Coast service to London Kings Cross. My name is James and I will be your Crew leader for today's journey, during which we will call at Wakefield Westgate, Doncaster, Retford, Newark Northgate, Grantham, Peterborough, Stevenage and London Kings Cross, where our arrival time is approximately 21:10, that's ten past nine this evening.

First class accommodation is located in coaches K, L & M at the front of the train, standard class in coaches B to H at the rear. Coach H is the buffet bar, which will open shortly after departure serving a wide range of hot and cold sandwiches, snacks, drinks and alcoholic beverages, and an at seat service is available for first class passengers.

Passengers please be aware that standard and first advance tickets are valid only for the service named on your ticket, please check any advance tickets to ensure they are valid on this service. A full ticket check will commence on departure from Leeds, and any passengers travelling without a valid ticket will have to purchase a new full-fare ticket for your journey.

The train is now ready to depart, can anyone on board not wishing to travel please make your way back to the platform as the doors are about to close. Once again this is the 18:40 east coast service to London Kings Cross. Our first calling point will be Wakefield Westgate, in approximately 12 minutes time.

After traveling the length and breadth of the UK with so many different TOCs and noting the vastly differing ways in which the announcements are made - automated or manual, I have come to the conclusion that some of the on-board crew make such long winded announcements because they know they might get paid by the word! As illustrated by the above example!

 

[142094]

After traveling the length and breadth of the UK with so many different TOCs and noting the vastly differing ways in which the announcements are made - automated or manual, I have come to the conclusion that some of the on-board crew make such long winded announcements because they know they might get paid by the word! As illustrated by the above example!

Exactly - I can do a journey between Newcastle and York and have upto around 10 minutes of different announcements. The worst was on XC where the catering person must have read out everything that he had on his trolley at each and every station.

Under BR when the station signage was changed to being a standard font and type across the whole network, this worked wonders. Same could be for announcements. Simple format and none of the guff that the guard likes to spew down the PA.

 

[Striker]

There is/was an ATN guard who used to come up with all sorts of rhymes on his announcements.

I wonder what he would say if he ever were to stop at Pluckley?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's a job I would actually like to do.

Good evening ladies and Gentleman, and welcome aboard the 18:40 East Coast service to London Kings Cross. My name is James and I will be your Crew leader for today's journey, during which we will call at Wakefield Westgate, Doncaster, Retford, Newark Northgate, Grantham, Peterborough, Stevenage and London Kings Cross, where our arrival time is approximately 21:10, that's ten past nine this evening.

First class accommodation is located in coaches K, L & M at the front of the train, standard class in coaches B to H at the rear. Coach H is the buffet bar, which will open shortly after departure serving a wide range of hot and cold sandwiches, snacks, drinks and alcoholic beverages, and an at seat service is available for first class passengers.

Passengers please be aware that standard and first advance tickets are valid only for the service named on your ticket, please check any advance tickets to ensure they are valid on this service. A full ticket check will commence on departure from Leeds, and any passengers travelling without a valid ticket will have to purchase a new full-fare ticket for your journey.

The train is now ready to depart, can anyone on board not wishing to travel please make your way back to the platform as the doors are about to close. Once again this is the 18:40 east coast service to London Kings Cross. Our first calling point will be Wakefield Westgate, in approximately 12 minutes time.

This has to be a joke post surely?

Give me one good reason why you think anybody would need to know your name? Do you seriously think anybody is listening and making a note of your name? By making it so long winded you just switch everybody off.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Exactly - I can do a journey between Newcastle and York and have upto around 10 minutes of different announcements. The worst was on XC where the catering person must have read out everything that he had on his trolley at each and every station.

Under BR when the station signage was changed to being a standard font and type across the whole network, this worked wonders. Same could be for announcements. Simple format and none of the guff that the guard likes to spew down the PA.

I was once on a train from Birmingham NS and the guard hadn't stopped speaking until we got to Tamworth. After we left Tamworth it started over again. What an utter nightmare. It put me off trains for a year.

 

[island]

I can recite the Irish Rail automated announcements :-x

I do wonder why non-automated announcements never say the station twice at the start of the announcement, though.

 

[Trains06]

VWC very rarely use the automated announcements from my experience - I have only heard it once and was reciting the normal patter in my head and was quite surprised when they didn't say. "....and London Euston" at the end - first & only time I've heard that one!

 

[Crossover]

VWC very rarely use the automated announcements from my experience - I have only heard it once and was reciting the normal patter in my head and was quite surprised when they didn't say. "....and London Euston" at the end - first & only time I've heard that one!

Heard the VWC ones more than I care to remember...including the other week on the Pendo drag which seemed to work between Rhyl and Colwyn Bay, at least. On that one the catering guy got annoying, but that may be because of the short gap between stops so we got the same (lengthy) announcement each time.

As for the automated system though, it just sounds so unnatural!

 

[Trains06]

Heard the VWC ones more than I care to remember...including the other week on the Pendo drag which seemed to work between Rhyl and Colwyn Bay, at least. On that one the catering guy got annoying, but that may be because of the short gap between stops so we got the same (lengthy) announcement each time.

As for the automated system though, it just sounds so unnatural!

Really? Maybe I'm just lucky

 

[Lineside]

Exactly - I can do a journey between Newcastle and York and have upto around 10 minutes of different announcements. The worst was on XC where the catering person must have read out everything that he had on his trolley at each and every station.

Under BR when the station signage was changed to being a standard font and type across the whole network, this worked wonders. Same could be for announcements. Simple format and none of the guff that the guard likes to spew down the PA.

lol

We've had that whenever I travel between Birmingham and Preston - panini's chocolates, crisps, biscuits, sweets, sandwiches (aren't panini's technically sandwiches?? honestly!), bottled water, tea and coffee, etc etc.... Come on man, stop waffling and keep things short otherwise people just get information overkill and switch off. I suggest the TOCs should set strict guidelines concerning how long announcements and messages should be before even more people get completely bombarded with simply way too much information than is necessary.



--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Heard the VWC ones more than I care to remember...including the other week on the Pendo drag which seemed to work between Rhyl and Colwyn Bay, at least. On that one the catering guy got annoying, but that may be because of the short gap between stops so we got the same (lengthy) announcement each time.

As for the automated system though, it just sounds so unnatural!

What sometimes amuses and/or aggravates me is when - if a train is delayed for whatever reason - the on board staff on trains or the manual announcers at stations (at any stations that do not have the automated systems) still like to spin out their announcements so you get something like, say:

"Apologies to customers awaiting the 12.24 Virgin service to Carlisle, due to signalling problems in the Tamworth area, this service is reported running approximately 10 - one zero - minutes late. The 12.14 Virgin service to Carlisle is running 10 - one zero - minutes late. Virgin Trains would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this delay to your journey will cause....."

Notice how they repeat one part of it twice...and then use the word "apologies" at the start followed by "apologise" near the end..... they don't honestly need this unnecessary duplication, cos it just makes the message appear very rambling and long winded. One apology is enough, really.

Surely they should try to keep all the announcements short and to the point, sorry if I'm rambling myself here !

 

[Turbocharger]

I have a friend, well more of an acquaintance really, who regularly travels up and down the East Coast from Leeds to King's Cross. The mention of "station stops" and other ridiculous syntax has always annoyed him, but he's noticed recently that this practice has ceased. Also, he noted there has been no announcements for the exhaustive list of sandwich fillings (he takes a packed lunch anyway). Has there been a change of policy at East Coast Trains or have the staff told management where to stuff their revenue protection barriers?

I have lost count of the times I have used that service with GNER, NXEC and EC. And to be honest the menu and the stops are done by different people (guard and catering/service manager) and different crews. It has never bothered me what they say or how they say it. So long as the train moves on time.

If they didn't say anything, then I would be worried.