"Too much information?"

[PhilipW]

About a year ago South West Trains reduced their announcements from 3 at every station to 2. The lengthy one listing out each station on the journey was removed.

The two remaining ones are
"We are now approaching xx"
and
"This is xx. This train is for yy and the next stop is zz".

All very sensible. Well done South West Trains.

 

[PR1Berske]

"For your personal safety and security, all our trains are fitted with closed ciruit television and....." oh for goodness' sake....

Less is more.

 

[Mainliner]

The ones which annoy me (and yes, I know the reasons for them) are those which drone on and on about making sure you have the right ticket, are on the right train, etc, and the doomsday warnings of a fate worse than death if anything is wrong hock:

Sometimes it's almost enough to make people think twice about travelling by train - more than once I've heard a guard say "make sure you are adamant your ticket is valid", as if warning everyone to expect a prolonged argument over it!

 

[D1009]

It'll work fine until we start getting complaints like "nobody told me I needed to change there" or "I'm being discriminated against as nobody told me I could get information in Braile"...

I'd be very interested if anyone could advise how many times you or any of your colleagues have actually been asked for the safety information in Braille?

 

[LexyBoy]

I'd be very interested if anyone could advise how many times you or any of your colleagues have actually been asked for the safety information in Braille?

I've been on a train where a woman asked for it. It took the TM a while to find it, so I'd guess they are not asked very often. The woman seemed fairly impressed that the TM made the effort and could actually find it (she admitted she was mostly asking to test them).

On the other hand, sighted passengers have Important Safety Information at eye level 12" in front of their faces at all times.

 

[PhilipW]

One of the worst examples I have is the Southern service to Southampton which stops at all stations between Chichester and Havant in the evening.

On leaving Chichester you get
"Welcome aboard the Southern service to Southampton Central calling at Fishbourne, Bosham, Nutbourne, Southbourne, Emsworth, Warblington, Havant, Cosham, Portchester, Fareham, Swanwick and Southampton Central. The next stop is Fishbourne".
"You are in Coach x of y".
By the time this has finished within seconds you get

"We are approaching Fishbourne"
then
"This is Fishbourne"
then
"Welcome aboard the Southern Service to Southampton Central calling at ....... etc

..... and so it goes on more or less all the time as the stops are such a short distance apart.

Message to Southern. Cut out the endless list of stops, just as SWT has done.

 

[BravoGolfMike]

Thank god somebody in government also thinks that these ridiculous announcements are awful. I might invite him to Leeds station to hear the "this is a safety announcement. Passengers with luggage blah blah blah blah" followed quickly by "security personell tour this station 24 hours a day" (do they?) followed by more garbage about people begging and how NR support approved chairites, like anybody actually cares one iota.

Actually my personal worst has to be Sheffield's "welcome to sheffield station. Smoking is not permitted anywhere at OUR(?) station. Please keep your luggage with you at all times...." and "for your own safety, witter witter witter" in the most loathsome, patronising and annoying voice.

 

[Goatboy]

Except the security announcements, which are a TRANSEC requirement (ie imposed on us) and required every 30 minutes approx.

Why is it only FGW that have these? I don't notice them on Cross Country.

If its a legal requirement why is not binding on every TOC? It seems like such a silly announcement. If you spot anything suspicious, report it. Well duh

 

[Flamingo]

Why is it only FGW that have these? I don't notice them on Cross Country.

If its a legal requirement why is not binding on every TOC? It seems like such a silly announcement. If you spot anything suspicious, report it. Well duh

Don't ask me, I'm just the monkey, ask the organ grinder
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'd be very interested if anyone could advise how many times you or any of your colleagues have actually been asked for the safety information in Braille?

I have been asked for them a few times - always by people who wanted to "test the system"(you know, plonkers).

 

[313103]

I think i should cut and paste all this thread and give to my Managers. On class 378s that are equipped with a Guard, The Guard now has to make additional announcements regarding the state of service at all NLL/WLL inter change stations whether its Good, Bad or Indifferent. Some passengers find this a help some find it extremely annoying. Me ive got use to it, to such a point that often i have not realised if she is speaking or not.

The reason why LO insist on this i dont know, but what i do know is that if the Guard doesnt make an announcement he/she will subject to disciplinary measures under the poor performance regime.

I have argued till i am blue in the face to my managers that passengers dont want to know if a service is running well (that is what they expect!), they only want to hear from me as the broadcaster of bad news.

I am like a lot of people on this thread i only want to know about if there is trouble and what alternatives there is. However i think most announcements are made in order for the company to reduce the chances of a writ served on them incase someone has done something they shouldnt do and the company didnt warn them. Rediculous i know, but it happens.

 

[Starmill]

I have been asked for them a few times - always by people who wanted to "test the system"(you know, plonkers).

Do you ever have to do those "... and if you have any questions about the safety information, please do not hesitate to ask a member of staff." announcements?

If I'm ever on your train, I'll come and give you a knock and have a good old natter with you about exactly what would count as an emergency situation or what to do if part of the train catches fire.

 

[43094]

I tend to find that I 'tune out' (where possible) almost all the announcements on my commute to and from work, partly through familiarity, and partly through them not being directly relevant at that particular moment.

The only announcements I will actively listen to (other than those relating to out-of-course situations such as delays etc) are those that are slightly non-standard (there are a small number of Guards who are especially worth listening to in this regard), as you never know how something will be said or phrased...

 

[83G/84D]

This one I only tend to hear infrequently and only when the gap is particularly huge - for example Worcester Foregate Street where its more a small mountain than a gap!

I think it is only necessary where the train is stood in a station where there is a curved platformand the train is leaning away from the platformand the gap is therefore greater than normal.

 

[Mugby]

'Safety information posters are displayed in the ends of each coach. Please take a moment of your time to familiarise yourself with these'

I've often thought, wouldn't it be funny if everyone on the train got up at the same time to go and look at them!

And, in the event (God forbid) of a catastrophic accident, I'm sure everyone would immediately think:

Mmm, now let me see, what did it say on that safety poster!

 

[tsr]

London Victoria. Earlier today. And indeed continuously in various guises throughout the last couple of weeks...

"Please stand clear of the train now at Platform 17. This train is ready to leave. Please stand clear of the train."

VERY annoying. Especially the repetitive bit! Do people not realise that ever since the introduction of 455s/456s and 377s (and indeed any CDL stock you care to mention), there is no longer any point in trying to board a train which is actually moving out of the platform?

Also, it is no good trying to tell people this in the vain hope that they won't hold the doors or attempt to board as they're closing. Anyone who has ever been on the Tube in the peak can vouch for this.

 

[Goatboy]

London Victoria. Earlier today. And indeed continuously in various guises throughout the last couple of weeks...

"Please stand clear of the train now at Platform 17. This train is ready to leave. Please stand clear of the train."

Similar to the announcements at Euston.

'This train is now ready to depart'

No it's not, because it's the 13:10 and its currently 13:04!

 

[Starmill]

Similar to the announcements at Euston.

'This train is now ready to depart'

No it's not, because it's the 13:10 and its currently 13:04!

Oh, that's one of my biggest bugbears, when the "The train at Platform X is the..." first announcement is coupled with a "Would passengers intending to travel on this service please join the train now, as it is ready to leave." announcement. Grrh!

 

[Flamingo]

Do you ever have to do those "... and if you have any questions about the safety information, please do not hesitate to ask a member of staff." announcements?

If I'm ever on your train, I'll come and give you a knock and have a good old natter with you about exactly what would count as an emergency situation or what to do if part of the train catches fire.

Hell no! If they have any questions then Darwins law applies :-P

But if you are ever on my train, I'm always pleased to have a natter

 

[tsr]

Similar to the announcements at Euston.

'This train is now ready to depart'

No it's not, because it's the 13:10 and its currently 13:04!

Virgin's longstanding policy of closing the doors a random but wholly inconvenient number of minutes before departure comes into play once again...

 

[6Gman]

Since becoming Trustee of a charity working with visually impaired people I'm a lot more sympathetic to "we are now approaching xxxxx". But rather more useful if it's 3-4mins [min] before arrival, NOT halfway down the platform!

My pet hate is ATW's "we will be calling at the following principal stations" followed by every calling point. So what's the significance of "principal"?

 

[sheff1]

Except the security announcements, which are a TRANSEC requirement (ie imposed on us) and required every 30 minutes approx.

Are these announcements only imposed on certain TOCs (those serving London maybe) ?

I ask because they are rarely heard on some TOCs I use frequently and certainly nowhere near every 30 mins.

The ones which annoy me (and yes, I know the reasons for them) are those which drone on and on about making sure you have the right ticket, are on the right train, etc, and the doomsday warnings of a fate worse than death if anything is wrong hock:

Indeed. Especially when, having ensured my tickets are the right ones, I am subsequently told by the person making the announcement that they are not valid due some 'rule' they have just made up.

Perhaps there should be the facility for passengers to make an announcement - "please ensure you are familiar with the NRCoC and ticket validity code restrictions before you attempt to check tickets"

 

[EM2]

Do people not realise that ever since the introduction of 455s/456s and 377s (and indeed any CDL stock you care to mention), there is no longer any point in trying to board a train which is actually moving out of the platform?

Yet every day, I see people hammering door buttons on trains that have locked their doors and are ready to move (or are already moving).

 

[tsr]

Yet every day, I see people hammering door buttons on trains that have locked their doors and are ready to move (or are already moving).

I've never seen it done to a train once the passenger realises it's moving. If the train is stationary and the door doesn't open, they usually look pleadingly at the staff, but don't do anything particularly dangerous. Because most people push the button at arm's length, it means they do not need to step back a particularly long way for them to be behind the yellow line. And step back they generally do.

 

[darkgs]

I think the Greater Anglia Class 315 refurb train onboard announcements also need curbing -
Before leaving London Liverpool Street, full list of stops. Moments after leaving, the same list of stops.
Stopping at Stratford, full list of stops. Leaving Stratford; again the full list of stops.
This repeats for every station and there is barely a gap in announcements between Stratford and Maryland...
If it were a less frequently stopping train it would feel less excessive but on the metro services it just lasts forever.

(Also on a side note, does anyone find the female voice used really patronising?)

Kev.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Southern (Norman Baker's local train company) have some of the worst on-board announcements as they announce every stop on the service after each station.

On the Portsmouth/Bognor services and on the Southampton/Bognor services which divide at Horsham, they must tell you about 20 times from Victoria that the train will divide at Horsham and will passengers please get in the right part of the train.

... and as for "You are in Coach 3 of 4" (etc) after each station. What's the point, nobody else announces that.

"Welcome aboard the Southern service to Littlehampton and Ore, calling at Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, and Haywards Heath, where this train will divide. Coaches one to four will continue to Littlehampton. Coaches five to eight will continue to Ore. From Haywards Heath, this train will form the Southern service to Ore, calling at Plumpton, Lewes, Polegate, Eastbourne, Hampden Park, Pevensey & Westham, Cooden Beach, Collington, Bexhill, St Leonards Warrior Square, Hastings, and Ore, where this train will terminate. Please ensure you are travelling in the correct part of the train. This is coach eight of eight. The next station is Clapham Junction. Please report anything suspicious to a member of railway staff or British Transp- We are now approaching Clapham Junction. Please mind the gap between the train and the platform."

 

[PhilipW]

"Welcome aboard the Southern service to Littlehampton and Ore, calling at Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, and Haywards Heath, where this train will divide. Coaches one to four will continue to Littlehampton. Coaches five to eight will continue to Ore. From Haywards Heath, this train will form the Southern service to Ore, calling at Plumpton, Lewes, Polegate, Eastbourne, Hampden Park, Pevensey & Westham, Cooden Beach, Collington, Bexhill, St Leonards Warrior Square, Hastings, and Ore, where this train will terminate. Please ensure you are travelling in the correct part of the train. This is coach eight of eight. The next station is Clapham Junction. Please report anything suspicious to a member of railway staff or British Transp- We are now approaching Clapham Junction. Please mind the gap between the train and the platform."

Thanks, GatwickDepress.
All too true. I know it well.

I can smile now while reading it at home, but on the train it drives me mad.

Southern is definately one of the worst TOCs in constant and unnnecessary drivel. As it is Norman Baker's local TOC, I do hope he has a quiet word with them. I wish him well.

 

[PR1Berske]

Similar to the announcements at Euston.

'This train is now ready to depart'

No it's not, because it's the 13:10 and its currently 13:04!

Ugh, I'm with you on that one!

At least in Preston we have - touch wood - manual announcements which don't yet get asked to repeat this garbage so often, but the "...only" woman at Wigan and elsewhere is terrible for it, and that one in particular.

"Will passengers intending to travel on this service, please board the train now, as it is ready to leave." is just the height (or depth?) or "railwayese". How can the airline industry be satisfied with "Last call for Gate 14 to..." whilst the railway has to stretch everthing out so much?

 

[tsr]

"Welcome aboard the Southern service to Littlehampton and Ore, calling at Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, and Haywards Heath, where this train will divide. Coaches one to four will continue to Littlehampton. Coaches five to eight will continue to Ore. From Haywards Heath, this train will form the Southern service to Ore, calling at Plumpton, Lewes, Polegate, Eastbourne, Hampden Park, Pevensey & Westham, Cooden Beach, Collington, Bexhill, St Leonards Warrior Square, Hastings, and Ore, where this train will terminate. Please ensure you are travelling in the correct part of the train. This is coach eight of eight. The next station is Clapham Junction. Please report anything suspicious to a member of railway staff or British Transp- We are now approaching Clapham Junction. Please mind the gap between the train and the platform."

"Welcome aboard the Southern service to Horsham, Tonbridge and Reigate. This train will call at Norwood Junction, East Croydon, Purley, Coulsdon South, Merstham and Redhill, where the train will divide. Coaches 1 to 4 will continue to Horsham. Coaches 5 to 8 will continue to Tonbridge. Coaches 9 to 12 will continue to Reigate. Please ensure you are travelling in the correct part of the train. This is coach number nine of twelve. Passengers for Norwood Junction should use the front eight coaches due to a short platform at this station. Passengers are reminded to keep personal audio devices and mobile phone conversations to a minimum. Please have your tickets ready for inspection. A ticket check is about to take place. Please move right down inside the carriages. Please stand clear of the doors - this train is ready to leave."

 

[kieron]

My pet hate is ATW's "we will be calling at the following principal stations" followed by every calling point. So what's the significance of "principal"?

That announcement never lists the request stops between Llandudno Junction and Holyhead, so maybe that's the answer. On trains which go that way you always get a manual announcement shortly afterwards to say where the train will actually stop, and to remind people to see the guard if they wish to leave at one of those stops. I don't know why they play the recorded announcement in the first place.

I'm not worried about there being too many recorded announcements on the trains I use, as I know that (for example) the woman who keeps reminding me to "keep a close eye on all your personal belongin's" is never going to say anything worth hearing on that train.

I'm more annoyed at the lack of announcements when the train I'm on is delayed for some reason. But that's the subject of another thread.

 

[317666]

I think the Greater Anglia Class 315 refurb train onboard announcements also need curbing -
Before leaving London Liverpool Street, full list of stops. Moments after leaving, the same list of stops.
Stopping at Stratford, full list of stops. Leaving Stratford; again the full list of stops.
This repeats for every station and there is barely a gap in announcements between Stratford and Maryland...
If it were a less frequently stopping train it would feel less excessive but on the metro services it just lasts forever.

(Also on a side note, does anyone find the female voice used really patronising?)

Kev.

They've been fitted with auto announcements now? God help us all, there's simply no need to announce anything more than the destination of the train and the next station, especially as all stations on the Shenfield Metro have platform announcements which say all the calling points as the train is pulling in! I've said this before and I'll say it again, the best announcement system is that on the 317s, because more often than not it doesn't work, thus ensuring a peaceful journey!