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SWR New announcements
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swt_passenger
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I think as we’re in the rolling stock forum, the latter. But this is already being discussed in the long-standing thread on rolling stock refurbishment.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
Here are the new Elinor announcements on 159006
And here is a nice clear recording I took of Celia (outgoing announcements) back in 2019, for somewhat of an unfair comparison:
View attachment Celia WAT PMH.mp3
And here is a nice clear recording I took of Celia (outgoing announcements) back in 2019, for somewhat of an unfair comparison:
View attachment Celia WAT PMH.mp3
What was wrong with the Celia announcements that made them change them....
NSEWonderer
Established Member
Everything has its time. SWR have decided to time out on Celia for a refresh.
Well, I think the fact that Celia Drummond is sadly no longer with us to record new ones may be a small factor in SWRs decision.
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Those don’t actually sound too bad to be honest. Like a slightly softer version of Celia’s, but not as bad as the slowed down (and slightly patronising) version Winchester once had.
DelW
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I will miss hearing Celia's announcements when they're replaced, having been something of a fan of hers since she was a singer in the early 1970s.
Those who haven't heard her vocal range from those days might care to listen to this:
(YouTube recording of "Murdoch's Mountain" from Trees' album "On the Shore", released in 1971)
For anyone searching for other examples, she was then known by her maiden name of Celia Humphris.
northernbelle
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Sorry to see Celia being replaced, but understandable. I do wish SWR had taken the opportunity to slow the announcements down a bit - these new ones appear to be even quicker than before. Not good for people who aren't used to hearing it.
Having heard it a few times, I wonder if the new voice is actually AI-generated rather than a bespoke recording session. Some of the stresses and pauses certainly sound that way.
Having heard it a few times, I wonder if the new voice is actually AI-generated rather than a bespoke recording session. Some of the stresses and pauses certainly sound that way.
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londonmidland
Established Member
Pretty strange pronunciation of Glastonbury. It should be 'Glas-tun-bury', not 'Glarse-ton-bry'
Purple Train
Established Member
Celia's announcements sounded that way!
She had a lovely voice, and it's a shame to see (or hear) her announcements go, but they were mixed absolutely dreadfully.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
I don’t know anyone south of the Watford Gap who pronounces the end as “bury” rather than “brie.”
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Trainguy34
Established Member
Brie for me
Sad Sprinter
Established Member
Not bad announcements. I have never cared for the "Anne" announcements on the platforms however and still miss Celia's voice on Southern/SWR
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
I meant that.
Trainguy34
Established Member
I know, but I'm hungry...
Don't think so - pretty sure it's Elinor Hamilton
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
You can get AI to take on the voice of a human, and its quite likely they’ve got it to replicate her voice.
ebennett07
Member
Update from a SWR Guard: The annoucements are being tested on 158/159s and if all is still going well the aim is to roll it out across the whole rolling stock.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
Thanks.
I’d advise members to skip to 1:00 if they wish to go straight to the Elinir recordings.
Anytime. Something I put together and threw a bit of Celia in there as a juxtaposition.
willt156
Member
I'm wondering if the same will happen to the Class 701s, as they currently have Celia's newer voice, and (presumably) more up-to-date announcements.
RailWonderer
Established Member
Elinor's announcements are slower paced and much more natural, Celia's voice, while sounding good always sounded awkward on SWT/SWR, as if all the stations were one word, like WokingWinchesterSouthamptonAirportParkwaySouthamptonCentralBrockenhurst...
Fair point. Though we still need to hear new Celia to judge that on the 701s!
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That's a void of uncertainty at the moment.
there will be no new Celia on 701s, Elinor has replaced her
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
What makes you say that?
I really like the fast Original Celia announcements on the 158/159/444/450/455/456/458 fleet. The way she lists all the stations very quickly makes the announcements nice and short unlike some other TOCs (like GWR for example) that go on and on forever. So personally i think the fact she says everything so quickly actually works very well.
New Celia (used on all the 442/484/701 trains) is the complete opposite. She speaks extremely slowly. I am guessing when they got her to record everything again they asked her to slow down.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
Well they're individual announcements all pieced together by software, aren't they, so it'd have been that that made them fast.
Yes it is indeed the software putting very short gaps between words. However i think Original Celia said her words a lot quicker compared to other voice over artists and especially compared to the New Celia version. With the New Celia she says her words a lot slower. So if you put the New Celia files on to the software on the class 158/159/444/450/455/456/458 fleet it would likely still sound a lot slower. I think it is a mixture of the software using short gaps and Original Celia saying her words quickly.
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