Too many announcements? BBC report

[EM2]

Will we be told not to run, cycle or rollerblade on the pavement...

I assume you are suggesting that the equivalent announcement in a station is not required? If so, why do I still get people cycling, skateboarding and rollerblading through my station EVERY day?

 

[Waddon]

In my opinion, multiple identical announcements are worse than no announcements at all, because people just get so used to them or irritated by them that they block them out, either through wearing headphones or by simply not paying attention to them. I find that people, especially in urban environments, get so bombarded with messages signs and adverts that they learn to just tune out...

For example, yesterday I was on a London Bridge train where the automated announcement repeated the destination seven or eight times, it still didn't prevent someone else in the carriage going round asking people 'is this the victoria train?'

 

[Bletchleyite]

I assume you are suggesting that the equivalent announcement in a station is not required? If so, why do I still get people cycling, skateboarding and rollerblading through my station EVERY day?

Do they stop when the announcement is played? If not it probably benefits nobody.

Neil

 

[jon0844]

We're all on the ride to the final destination... It's called the graveyard/crematorium.

Unless there's engineering work.

 

[EM2]

Do they stop when the announcement is played? If not it probably benefits nobody.

Neil

For the most part, yes they do. You still get the occasional idiot that really doesn't give a stuff about anyone else.

 

[jon0844]

On train announcements need to be those that would benefit someone who is visually impaired.

Those should be done on all trains, and stuff anyone that gets upset.

But that doesn't mean you need unnecessarily long speeches, and you could argue that some things like reading safety notices posted throughout the train could be left to the screens only - as someone with a visual impairment might not be able to read them anyway.

 

[EM2]

As an illustration, I've had to make six announcements regarding cycling on the station in the last six hours.

 

[bunnahabhain]

On train announcements need to be those that would benefit someone who is visually impaired.

Those should be done on all trains, and stuff anyone that gets upset.

But that doesn't mean you need unnecessarily long speeches, and you could argue that some things like reading safety notices posted throughout the train could be left to the screens only - as someone with a visual impairment might not be able to read them anyway.

I keep all of my announcements straight and to the point, with very little in the way of waffle. Stations, arrival times at principal stations, reservations, trolley, luggage and have your tickets ready is my main speel from major stations. Generally cutting all but the first two and last bit where I feel its inappropriate for the journey such as suburban/metro style services. I never announce for you to mind the gap except where its appropriate and its usually described as "Step down from the train" if its a drop or "Gap from the train to the platform" if its a gap. The only bit where I do tend to waffle on a lot is announcing connections at major stations, depending on my time available I'll look up in advance departure times and platforms for the main destinations that passengers are heading to, rather than a big long list of unhelpful "You can change here for Penzance, Plymouth, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Norwich, Liverpool, Leeds, Scarborough" etc.

 

[jon0844]

The type of service definitely makes a difference to the type of announcement. On an Intercity service, you will probably give more detailed announcements - as well as an announcement about the next stop a bit further in advance to let people 'pack up' and get ready.

On a suburban commuter service it's still vital to give station names, but not necessarily all the other information.

I think FCC had it about right on the 317s but now the software has been upgraded and they talk a LOT more. There is some more useful info about the validity of Oyster, including warning when you're reaching a station that is the last place you can use it, but that does go on a bit - and now a lot of the welcome, stopping pattern, safety notices and Oyster etc are repeated at every single station.

The 313s don't have PIS, but if they did, then imagine how annoying that would be for people going from WGC or Hertford to Moorgate!

 

[Frontera2]

One of the criticisms often levelled at Train Operators when they (we?!) want to reduce / remove announcements is "what about the blind..."

Which led to a lightbulb moment..

Wouldn't it be great if announcements at stations could be made via Bluetooth or other similar technology, therefore if you needed to listen to train announcements, you simply turned on your device, put your earphones and hey presto!

Or am I being wildly simplistic?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's worse than that!

Southern now announce 'This train is the Southern service to x' before every 'we are now approaching' announcement!

I don't need to know the destination of the train before every station and after every station!

Do you even need to know it's the "Southern" service?

 

[jon0844]

I was actually thinking something similar, perhaps with an app for a smartphone, but of course you'd then have to provide the necessary equipment to those that don't have it - if you want to be truly accessible for all.

Probably a more simple system would be broadcasting via a 'free' mobile radio channel, although if you did any of this then there's the obvious issue of someone else broadcasting their own nonsense 'for a laugh'.

In any case, I think next station and 'this train is for' announcements are useful for everyone.

Edit: And I guess you only need to know what operator it is if you have an operator specific ticket.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Do you even need to know it's the "Southern" service?

Considering the ex-Southern 319s and 377s, yes!

It isn't even "the Southern service to Exampleton", its "a Southern service to Exampleton"; one of dozens a day! "Welcome aboard the 1412 Southern service to Exampleton" would be much more helpful imho.

 

[BestWestern]

I agree with the point upthread about 'flowery' wording making it worse. The most irritating announcement I regularly hear goes along the lines of

"xxx is a request stop. Passengers wishing to alight should contact the Conductor on board the train to arrange for the train to stop to allow them to leave".

One almost expects that to be followed by a detailed description of how the Conductor (on board the train) will then ask the Driver (on board the train) to apply the brakes to stop the train in the platform and then open the doors so that passengers (on board the train) who wish to alight can "leave"...

Regarding 'intercity' services with buffets, I am completely stumped as to why nobody has ever thought it worthwhile to place a 'menu' card giving an overview of the offerings on the seatbacks throughout the train. For example one could easily be placed into the holder along with the emergency information cards on FGW. This being right in the eyeline of the passenger is surely more likely to lure them in than endless waffle listing every item on board; instead, the buffet staff or guard can simply include an quick reference to the buffet being open and situated wherever. Better still, turn them into a Costa and watch them flock to it!

 

[Starmill]

I agree with the point upthread about 'flowery' wording making it worse. The most irritating announcement I regularly hear goes along the lines of

"xxx is a request stop. Passengers wishing to alight should contact the Conductor on board the train to arrange for the train to stop to allow them to leave".

One almost expects that to be followed by a detailed description of how the Conductor (on board the train) will then ask the Driver (on board the train) to apply the brakes to stop the train in the platform and then open the doors so that passengers (on board the train) who wish to alight can "leave"...

Regarding 'intercity' services with buffets, I am completely stumped as to why nobody has ever thought it worthwhile to place a 'menu' card giving an overview of the offerings on the seatbacks throughout the train. For example one could easily be placed into the holder along with the emergency information cards on FGW. This being right in the eyeline of the passenger is surely more likely to lure them in than endless waffle listing every item on board; instead, the buffet staff or guard can simply include an quick reference to the buffet being open and situated wherever. Better still, turn them into a Costa and watch them flock to it!

Some ScotRail customer hosts place out their menu throughout the train. "Snack while you roll!" ;D

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Considering the ex-Southern 319s and 377s, yes!

It isn't even "the Southern service to Exampleton", its "a Southern service to Exampleton"; one of dozens a day! "Welcome aboard the 1412 Southern service to Exampleton" would be much more helpful imho.

You are Mr Logic from Viz and I claim my five pounds!

 

[sarahj]

One of the criticisms often levelled at Train Operators when they (we?!) want to reduce / remove announcements is "what about the blind..."

Which led to a lightbulb moment..

Wouldn't it be great if announcements at stations could be made via Bluetooth or other similar technology, therefore if you needed to listen to train announcements, you simply turned on your device, put your earphones and hey presto!

Or am I being wildly simplistic?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Do you even need to know it's the "Southern" service?

On the main line and say from Portsmouth where southern only branded tickets are sold, perhaps yes. On a chuggy 313/377 along the coast, perhaps not. The place to enjoy these in all it glory is the sunday services from Brighton to Portmouth. All stations except Hilsea. There is a way round it, and some pasengers last sunday may have noticed the PIS scrolling, but saying nothing, but the guard saying things like, 'lancing, worthing, just before the appropriate station, and the sometimes 'all sations to Portmouth service'. Disgusting.

 

[Smethwickian]

I'm a bit fed up with Birmingham New Street at the moment.

Not only do we have the full panoply of non-departure announcements - about slips/trips/falls, luggage unattended, lifts, 24-hour CCTV, gaps, letting people off before boarding, etc etc etc repeated at increasingly frequent intervals - we now have the projected woman at the top of several sets of B-end escalators on the main concourse.

She blathers on loudly and patronisingly about minding stairs, using the escalators carefully (oh, I was planning to hurl myself down head-first), asking staff if you need any help (gosh - I'd NEVER have thought of that) and making lame 'jokes' about lifts being like pantomimes (i.e., 'they're behind you').

Arriving yesterday evening at about 2030 after a trespass incident there were lots of delays and a great many last-minute platform alterations, yet walking along the concourse past the tops of those B-end escalators it was hard to concentrate on the essential announcements properly because of projected woman's loud interjections, manual announcements being started in the middle of automatic ones, extra announcements on-platform drifting up the stairwells, and all the unnecessary waffle in general.

Sometimes, less really is more. Stop blathering and give the crucial information clearly and concisely.

 

[sarahj]

Slightly off topic, but the escalator thing is a pain in the behind. Staions where folks have heavy bags are the worse. It seems most happen when the user decided half way up to reposition their bag. the bag tips over, they loose their footing and tumble back. The list of those going over at Gatwick airport has to be seen to be believed. At Gatwick we try and get them to use the lifts. Some do. Some wont, and when they make it to the top with no issues, think, 'gawd, all those announcements and for what'. But when you see the reports you might think otherwise.

 

[Tio Terry]

Had to smile yesterday, caught the Jubilee Line from Waterloo to Stratford, the announcement went something like "The approaching train is for Stratford calling at all stations. Please stand back from the platform edge".


Waterloo has Platform Edge Doors.

 

[40129]

Have to admit I really hate the plethora of automated announcements at New Street, especially as whoever decided that separate announcements on different platform groups (2/3, 4/5, etc) didn't realize that you can clearly hear the 4/5 announcement from platform 3 - to the extent that when, for example, both the 2/3 and 4/5 announcements go off simultaneously it's almost impossible to decipher which train is going where. Also, the 'female' computer cannot pronounce Shrewsbury or pretty much anywhere beyond Newtown correctly.

Another thing that annoys me (slightly off-topic) are the CIS screens that insist on adding HL or LL suffixes to Galton Bridge, Tamworth and Lichfield TV as if the low and high level platforms were separate stations, when in fact they are the same station.

 

[Taunton]

I'm surprised there hasn't been a challenge through the Advertising Standards Authority about selling seats in the "quiet coach", which is promoted as travel without being interrupted by a single legitimate ringtone, when you are then subjected to a constant barrage over the PA of "Please mind the gap between the train and the platform; step carefully if it has been raining; the buffet now has <yadda yadda yadda>; I am Fred the SENIOR conductor; please ensure your shoelaces are tied up at ALL times; there is a good service between <two places you have never heard of>; in the buffet we still have <yadda> and <yadda>, but have just sold out of <yadda>; .............. ".

 

[trainophile]

Just caught up with this thread, and may I thank the witty contributors for giving me the best laugh I've had all day!

Just to add to the topic, at this time of year I do appreciate station announcements on early evening intercity services, and preferably a few minutes before the train pulls to a halt, as in the dark it is difficult to recognise my usual landmarks in good time to get my stuff together ready to depart.

Well saying that I'm generally okay as I know which order my stations are in, but for infrequent travellers relying on announcements, an extra minute can make all the difference between an organised exit and a frantic scramble!

 

[Signal Head]

Has anyone else suffered the new style VT on-train announcements, currently playing on at least one of the 11 coach Pendolinos, presumably (hopefully) only as a trial?

It's clearer than the older style, but far too loud, starting with a really intrusive 'chime', then goes into a script more suited to 1970s Blue Peter or Playschool - "Today, we'll be travelling to [pause] London Euston, calling at..."

Currently on one which is announcing in this style, three times in quick succession after each station call, it's one station out of step, and announces each station as approaching, after departing from it.

 

[jon0844]

Ah, I think I know what system that is then!

 

[anti-pacer]

On 333's...

"The next station is Leeds. This train terminates here. Please take all your personal belongings with you" (words to that effect), whilst the train is still sat, doors open at Guiseley or Shipley.

I saw someone pick up their bag and make a dart for the door at Shipley once. Clearly not a local, and clearly only heard the last two thirds of the announcement.

Another poster rightly stated about the amount of time the next station is announced. Leeds to Shipley is overkill!

 

[Abpj17]

announcements are very annoying, but I accept they are needed (although I wish there were more/better human ones during delays)

Thameslink goes through central london and two major airports. Even with signs all over the place, there are regularly people using oyster to travel outside the zone, people standing over the yellow line which means the train is slow to leave, confused passengers missing their stop (particularly fast/slow trains). Given the almost inherent security risks in London, it's hard to disagree with some of the security announcements too.

 

[455driver]

There is a way round it, and some pasengers last sunday may have noticed the PIS scrolling, but saying nothing, but the guard saying

Which is all well and good until the driver needs to contact you!
You can do the same trick on, at least, 455, 143,150, 153 as well.

 

[sarahj]

It an option in MITRAC. She says nowt, but PA and C-C still works. Anyway, thats what 3-3 is for.

 

[PHILIPE]

Announcements (a real voice located at the station) were for the purpose of informing passengers regarding train running information. Since they progressively became transmitted by recorded automated messages, companies seem to have joined the bandwagon by taking advantage of the system to extend the range of announcements but, unfortunately, all the additional waffle which drives people daft has crept in, especially the nanny state ones. I agree that a number of announcements are legislative but they've only crept in since the automation. Why are the railways singled out for this. You could fall over just as easily in a bus station as a railway station.

 

[Tibbs]

snip
I am Fred the SENIOR conductor;
/snip

This resonated with me immediately, so I had to make this meme in its honour.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1957488&postcount=202