Train Display-Annoucement oddities ... (excluding driver input code errors)

[bigdelboy]

The thread 'London Overground (378) incorrect next station' has' a some things about silly announements. But that thread is very specific. I'd prefer this thread for train announcement oddities that are do not relate to driver code input errors.

Three oddities spring to mind:

The dulcet tones of the female Thames turbo annoucer are pleasant, but on north downs slows she persistantly announces for honourable Betchworth "The next station is BLetchworth. Notice the 'L'. The scroll display does not have the 'L'. I heard a guard say she is to be updated soon, so perhaps the oddity will disappear.

Southern electrostars are pleased to announce and display 'you are in coach '5 of 8' ... or whatever .... And especially the rare but much sought after '7 of 9'. SWT Desiro's coach systems seem to have no such intelligence, leaving SWT guards various manual announcement techniques in attempts to get the public to move forward for the next short station.

An on southern electostars their is always that comforting 'electrostar' to indicate the train does actually know what is after another reboot to clear a fault or go past north pole.

 

[user15681]

On my train the other day, a Southeastern 375, it said I was in 'Coach 12 of 11'.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I once had a Southeastern 46x displaying 'Caryford' instead of Crayford on the scrolling screens. I have a picture of it somewhere...

 

[starrymarkb]

A dodgy translation on a foreign tram system that has since been updated...

"The next stop is the last. All Passengers must leave board. We look forward to welcoming you on board again soon"

 

[Mr395008]

Southeastern electrostars always seem to be confused!

 

[Qwerty133]

on a 2 car nxea turbostar scrolling on the display. this service is to sheringham calling at sheringham (front 2 coaches only)

 

[Eagle]

There's the well-known case of SWT's units displaying their Twitter username as @SWⓈTrains (that is, the character encoding the displays use replaces the underscore with an S-Bahn symbol).

Kind of makes it obvious that they're made by Siemens in Germany.

 

[causton]

There's the well-known case of SWT's units displaying their Twitter username as @SWⓈTrains (that is, the character encoding the displays use replaces the underscore with an S-Bahn symbol).

Kind of makes it obvious that they're made by Siemens in Germany.

Except they 'fixed' it:

It now says simply "follow us on Twitter" without mentioning the names!

London Midland do it fine on their desiros so I don't see any reason why SWT can't!

 

[Lrd]

There's the well-known case of SWT's units displaying their Twitter username as @SWⓈTrains (that is, the character encoding the displays use replaces the underscore with an S-Bahn symbol).'

Kind of makes it obvious that they're made by Siemens in Germany.

This is no more though, they have rephrased it to something else, think it's just "Follow us on twitter".

Although, I noticed LM managed to get the @ to work, no idea why SWT are struggling.

 

[Eagle]

London Midland do it fine on their desiros so I don't see any reason why SWT can't!

Because LM's Twitter handle doesn't have an underscore in it :P

 

[Lrd]

And, I'm too slow!

 

[D365]

There's this S-Bahn announcement which I always mock(ed) for its pronunciation; I can't quite remember which though. The FCC train PIS's never have any errors; they just don't work!

 

[bolli]

Theres rather a poor automated station announcement system in place at Severn Tunnel Junction.

Completely fails to say place names such as "Manchester" correctly.

 

[Eagle]

Theres rather a poor automated station announcement system in place at Severn Tunnel Junction. Completely fails to say place names such as "Manchester" correctly.

Is that the one that uses synthesized speech rather than recorded speech?

 

[bolli]

Is that the one that uses synthesized speech rather than recorded speech?

I think so. It sounds a lot like it!

 

[Eagle]

According to this thread, STJ is using a voice called Rachel (the online version of which seems to cope fine with Manchester, possibly been updated).

 

[bolli]

That one seems to be similar- the Manchester issue is fixed, however, I'm fairly sure its not pronounced "Pixiedilly"!

 

[SETCommuter]

I get wound up by the fact there is no space between the words "your" and "safety" on Southeastern mainline !

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The ATW 175 on-train voice is mostly well modulated and neutral, but when she says Holyhead it comes out as an ultra-cheerful HOLYhead with a big smile attached and stress on the first syllable.
I won't go into her various odd pronunciations of Llandudno...

The VT Pendolino auto announcements are very down-beat and seem to miss out most of the first syllable of the sentence - eg This is Wilmslow just come out as ..s Wilmslow.
She also swallows the "and" before naming the last station.

And a pet hate: Voyagers (and ATW platform autoannouncements) saying Euston instead of London Euston when there is plenty of room for the full name on the display.
It's similar to Peterboro' and Middlesbro' on the A1 signs when there are socking great signs on which you can put the names properly.

 

[SprinterMan]

on a 2 car nxea turbostar scrolling on the display. this service is to sheringham calling at sheringham (front 2 coaches only)

They do that at Kennett and Newmarket as well. I think it is because they used the same PIS as the 3 car 170s. I was on a GA 170 a few months ago going Norwich to Cambridge and it insisted we were calling at Lakenheath and Shippea Hill when we weren't, and it also thanked me for travelling with National Express.

c2c still advise people to change at Upminster for NXEA service I think.

Arriva Trains Wales 158s refer to Abergele & Pensarn as "Abergele & Pensar" (or they used to at least) and they also ignore request stops.

Adam

 

[MattRobinson]

A few weeks ago, I was on a train from Keighley to Leeds, which insisted every stop was Cononley. It was particularly weird because, instead of just being stuck on 'the next station is Cononley', it seemed to replace each station with Cononley. Amusing when approaching Leeds 'The next station is Cononley. This train terminates here. Please take all of your personal belongings with you'.

O/T, but on the subject of synthesised speech pronouncing stuff wrong, my phone pronounces 'Castlegate' as 'Cas-tell-y-gate'

 

[142056]

To me, the Transpennine Express 185s seem to say 'Chorley' in quite a downbeat tone...I wonder if it's any reflection on the town?!

 

[gnolife]

I've had, on a TPX 185, on leaving MIA
Welcome aboard this First Transpennine Express service to Scarborough, calling at Manchester Piccadilly, Stalybridge, Huddersfield, Leeds, York, Malton, Seamer and Scarborough. The next stop will be Liverpool South Parkway.

 

[D2022]

I regularly hear the announcement at Trowbrige proclaim its a five car service...FGW don't run any five car units down there normally, I've never seen one personally.

Also had the woman on Platform 4 at Swindon announce that the next train at platform 8 is the blah blah.
Really....where is this fabled platform 8

 

[westcoaster]

Fcc on 377's pulling into east croydon going south, if you have an oyster you must leave the train or you will be liable to a pf.

 

[Crossover]

A few weeks ago, I was on a train from Keighley to Leeds, which insisted every stop was Cononley. It was particularly weird because, instead of just being stuck on 'the next station is Cononley', it seemed to replace each station with Cononley. Amusing when approaching Leeds 'The next station is Cononley. This train terminates here. Please take all of your personal belongings with you'.

On one of my first times on a 333, the PIS was fine (well, as fine as a Class 333 PIS can be :P) until we were on the approach to Leeds. Leaving Shipley, it had been fine and announced the next station as Leeds where it terminates. On the station approach, however, it also decided we were approaching Cononley, where the train terminates.

Cue rather hurried announcement by the guard that this was, in fact, complete rubbish!

Wonder if Cononley is their default station

 

[ValleyLines142]

I do like the automated announcements on the 175s, although she says Cwmbran very poshly, like 'Cwm-braaaahn'. Also, every other station is pronounced in a different tone! Abergavenny is prounced ridiculously low, then she screams Hereford out as if she's never seen the place before, then Leominster is quiet, then Ludlow is loud again! And my favourite is when she says Crewe, Wilmslow, Stockport aaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnndddddddd Manchester Piccadilly. (She also says Manchester Piccadilly with the 'illy' pronounced higher than the rest of the name, as if she is going to continue to say something but she isn't!! :P)

 

[DXMachina]

I demand that for better understanding all voiced announcements should pronounce place-names with the correct regional accent

If nothing else the comedy would increase with the length of the journey, giving much needed relief for long-distance passengers.

Although Liverpoooooooool liiime streeet might need some truncation

[Edit to add. According to the count this was my post no.390. Apologies if its not properly vertical, words dont line up with spaces and it smells faintly of poop]

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Quite often when I'm on a merseyrail service into Chester

"This train is for please ensure you take all your luggage and personal belongings with you"

Please not-The announcement is not exact but you see where I'm coming form

 

[transmanche]

I demand that for better understanding all voiced announcements should pronounce place-names with the correct regional accent

At Riding Mill station yesterday, I was highly amused to hear the electronic lady pronounce Prudhoe as 'Prude Ho'. Thankfully the guard pronounced it (correctly) as 'Pruddah'.