Transpenine Express new onboard announcements

[johntea]

Just on a York - Manchester via Wakefield Transpenine Express service and they seem to have updated the on board announcements!

They no longer seem to insist on starting a new. sentence every 3. words although I think the announcer is the same male voice?

One curiosity is instead of ‘This is the xx:xx service to Manchester Piccadilly’ you just get ‘This is a service to Manchester Piccadilly’!

Also no list of upcoming station stops other than the next one upon departing each station stop although I can’t remember if Transpenine Express ever did that or not

EDIT : The return journey still has the old announcements and they DID use to rattle off a complete list of upcoming station stops!

 

[GWVillager]

Yes, I’ve noticed this too. They’ve sped them up a lot, as well, but I don’t know why. The old ones were perfectly fine - some of my favourites, in fact.

 

[dodecahedron67]

The new announcements are by two members of staff following an internal competition. A Glasgow based conductor is the voice of the Class 397s and a York conductor the voice of 185s and 802s.

Only complaint is the voice on 185s and 802s is quite quiet and probably needs to be turned up a bit as it’s quite hard to hear on noisy trains

 

[IanMac]

I've heard similar uninformative announcements though not on TPE as I haven't travelled with them.

I much prefer an announcement that states clearly which train it is (operator, time, location, routing/destination), how punctual it is (or is not), when and where the next stop will be, the connections available at that stop, followed by all the other stuff about seating available, toilets, refreshments, tickets etc. And it isn't a service; in the UK we call them trains.

 

[Msq71423]

If the auto announcers are on there's no need for the guard to come on straight after and repeat everything just said though! One or the other is sufficient in my opinion.

 

[kkong]

If the auto announcers are on there's no need for the guard to come on straight after and repeat everything just said though! One or the other is sufficient in my opinion.

Except when the auto-announcer is wrong.

e.g. I was on a ScotRail 4-car HST the other day which was approaching Broughty Ferry in the down direction.

The auto-announcer said it would be single door operation, but the conductor came on the PA to say that all doors would be opened.

 

[speedy1]

This is still the average auto announcement experience on most journeys IIRC:

"For your safety and security, this train is fitted with CCTV. Please keep your belongings with you and insight at all times. If you notice anything suspicious, speak to a member of staff or text the British transport police on 61016. If you see it, say it and we'll sort it"

"If you have an advance purchase ticket, please note, these are only valid for the service shown on the reservation. If you are travelling on a different service, you will be required to pay an additional charge. If you are unsure, please speak to a member of staff"

"Please keep aisles free of luggage and use the overhead racks provided. Seats should be kept free of luggage for people to use"

"Welcome to this TransPennine Express service to XX:XX to Manchester Piccadilly, calling at..." (2 or 3 times before departure, then immediately after departure)

"If you are leaving the train, take a moment to check you have everything with you. Don't forget any bags or cases in the luggage rack or under seats and retain your tickets as they may be required when exiting this station.

"Thank you for travelling with us at TransPennine Express and we hope you have a great onward journey"

"Please mind the step down from the train onto the platform as it is larger than usual at this station and use the handrails provided"

"First class accommodation is available on this train, located in coach K and is for the use of first class ticket holders only"



I did get on a train the other day that had no announcements. I assumed something was broken more than TPE doing A/B tests or a trial though.

 

[matthewjohnson]

It seems rather too enthusiastic to be going to Hull, and that's even as a proud resident and advocate of the much maligned city!

 

[ENC Rail]

I've always liked the TPE announcements so I think its a shame they are changing.

Saying that, this is the first I've heard about TPE changing their announcements so I'll have to listen to the new one before I say its a bad thing!

Looks like I'll have to have a trip on my favourite TOC soon...

 

[Hullbloke]

It seems rather too enthusiastic to be going to Hull, and that's even as a proud resident and advocate of the much maligned city!

I've heard this dozens of times by now but it's always a source of amusement for those hearing him for the first time.

 

[WolvertonWorks]

I was on the 11:10 TPE (1M86) from Glasgow yesterday morning. We arrived at Preston and then waited ... train manager came on to say that a passenger had been taken ill on a train between Manchster Piccadilly and Manchester airport meaning congestion in the Manchester area. After about twenty minutes we set off again.

Then as we were coming in to Piccadilly what sounded like an automated announcement said the train was terminating at Piccadilly quickly followed by the train manager apologising that the announcement had played before he was aware of the termination and confirming for those passengers intending to go to the airport that yes the train was terminating.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

On a stopping TPE on Saturday, I was amused to hear an announcement by an AI lady with a very plummy voice say “Slough-it” more or less correctly.

 

[YorksLad12]

The new announcements have been around for a while. I'll admit to missing the familiarity of the previous one, and my dislike of "be the voice of our trains"-style programmes. See also: Northern.

There are so many announcements on TPE that, when leaving Huddersfield towards Leeds, they were still going strong past Deighton.

 

[Fokx]

On a stopping TPE on Saturday, I was amused to hear an announcement by an AI lady with a very plummy voice say “Slough-it” more or less correctly.

That would have been the guard.

AI isn't used for announcements onboard

 

[Parallel]

On a stopping TPE on Saturday, I was amused to hear an announcement by an AI lady with a very plummy voice say “Slough-it” more or less correctly.

Was this at the station? Northern use the voice of Celia Drummond at their stations which matches this description. She is not AI but a real voice, sadly now deceased.

 

[oldman]

It seems rather too enthusiastic to be going to Hull, and that's even as a proud resident and advocate of the much maligned city!

I heard something similar with Dunbar, to general amusement. I guess they had been correctly told that the emphasis is on the second syllable but overdid it.