What a load of nonsense.

[Michael.Y]

I like her on the 175s, she's very classy! She does talk a tad slowly; I suppose it's good in a way so that people can understand her.

There's two birds on our 175s. There's Doris and Annie - Doris tells people what stations are coming up and tells people not to fall in the gap at Ludlow... then Annie pipes up and asks people not to smoke and to keep an eye on their bags.

 

[Crossover]

The 175s have particularly long-winded announcements about it though.

333s are very brief in terms of automated announcements (probably as it should be, certainly for regional trains) - "Welcome to the X train", "the next station is X", "where this train terminates, please take your belongings with you". That's it.

333's need GPS though :P

That said, I think if they had, they would have hundreds of announcements. At the moment it has no way of knowing where it is for sure so focuses on trying to work out :P
Only confusing bit is at like Shipley it decides this is where the train terminates (well, it sounds that way, though it isn't actually)

The annoncement always sound very happy on them too :P

 

[SS4]

If passengers listened perhaps we'd not need so much. Many times I've heard passengers told to have their tickets ready for inspection on exiting BHM yet it goes unheeded :roll:

Once ended up on a train which must have been programmed to go the other way, the screens and automatic announcer had to countermand the information. That must have really cheesed him off since it was a BHM-RUG stopper IIRC. Thankfully I was only going from Marston Green to BHI (parking is free at the former, not the latter )

 

[ValleyLines142]

There's two birds on our 175s. There's Doris and Annie - Doris tells people what stations are coming up and tells people not to fall in the gap at Ludlow... then Annie pipes up and asks people not to smoke and to keep an eye on their bags.

Doris! What a cracking name love it! Does Annie mention the security announcements, and telling passengers to remain vigilent throughout their journey?

Doris is usually an elder lady's name, she sounds only about 30-40ish on the 175s! It sounds very much like Ruth actually, who does platform announcements at Cardiff and Newport.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Doris! What a cracking name . . . . .

I think its alliterative.
Users of many digital systems which use female voice samples will refer to the voice as 'Digital Doris'.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I think its alliterative.
Users of many digital systems which use female voice samples will refer to the voice as 'Digital Doris'.

I know, that's why I love it

 

[Michael.Y]

I know, that's why I love it

A backronym for Digital Oral Railway Information System

I guess Annie could be Announcer Needs New Interesting Expressions....

 

[ValleyLines142]

A backronym for Digital Oral Railway Information System

I guess Annie could be Announcer Needs New Interesting Expressions....

Ey, careful, she might be on here!

 

[Crossover]

If passengers listened perhaps we'd not need so much. Many times I've heard passengers told to have their tickets ready for inspection on exiting BHM yet it goes unheeded :roll:

Passengers....listen....hock:

Was on a train to Scarborough the other week and a family boarded at York. Before shutting up, the guard manually announced the service and where it would call and the family were there at that point.

They sat down and we set off. Guard came round to do ticket checks at which point they him asked if the train went to London...whose first words were "did you not hear my announcement just before setting off"

They blamed it on being stressed (not sure if they were flying somewhere as they weren't English, though did seem to speak good English) and just got on the first train at the platform they were told, platform 5.

I don't think any amount of announcements, PIS' and station boards will stop such things to be honest. I think the family were lucky as the guard gave them an itinerary to get back from Malton and left it at that.

 

[Hydro]

Well, on some routes the train certainly does go back in the direction it came from.
Cardiff to Portsmouth harbour services do this at Bristol Temple Meads. Sometimes, the guard will specifically say something to the effect of "this train will now reverse on leaving the station". Presumably so people who don't know this happens don't get too confused!

Ah, but then the train is technically still going forward, just in a different direction!

I've always thought "reversing" (face same way, move backwards) and "reversing direction" (turn opposite and move forwards) are different.

"Going forward to..." sounds just rubbish and woolly. I don't know why things such as announcements (which, like all forms of verbal comms, need to be clear, to the point, avoid jargon and such to aid clear understanding) need to be tarted up with such phrases.

 

[Schnellzug]

Of course, a 175 doesn't have this problem.

The automated announcement says: 'We will shortly be arriving at (wherever).''

That's a nice casual attitude. "We will shortly be arriving at...oh, wherever. Somewhere or other. Like I care."
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

My own bugbear of railway communication is when a station display says PLEASE STAND CLEAR, the next train is not in public use, and then a half-full fast train goes through. It clearly is in public use, but just doesn't happen to stop there.

or the ones that go "Please stand clear. The next train is...." and you can't hear the rest of it, because the train's hurtling through by then.

 

[Welshman]

Passengers....listen....hock:

Very true.

I well remember being on a Voyager which was diverted over the S.& C.
While we were waiting at Preston, the TM was at pains to stress the next stop would be Carlisle, and passengers for intermediate stations should board the bus replacement service, naming the stations involved. He made that announcement several times and I was getting sick of hearing it.
Then we got underway and he did his ticket-check as we were passing through Blackburn. Sure enough the chap sitting adjacent to me, where he'd been sitting all the time, was wanting to go to.....Lancaster!......I still marvel at the TM's self-control.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Do those automated-voice announcements at stations come on automatically or are they switched-on manually?

If manually, someone at Euston has a wicked sense of humour, for I remember one day the concourse was heaving with folks staring at the departures board, awaiting the platforming of a Manchester train, and getting more and more anxious as the departure time approached.

About 4 minutes before the scheduled time, the platform came up, followed immediately by the automated voice warning:-
"Because of the wet weather, platform surfaces are slippery. DON'T RUN"


Another automated announcement that annoys me is at Manchester Piccadilly, where a voice warns very frequently:-
"Security personnel patrol this station 24-hours a day"

I always add under my breath "and they're getting pretty tired now"

 

[Badger]

I've noticed you only need to mind the gap and make sure you have your personal belongings with you if you're getting off at a terminal station. Anywhere inbetween you're fine to leave your bag behind

 

[Hydro]

What about the infamous one at Plymouth that automatically triggers when using the stairs? "Please use the handrail and take care using the stairs".

I always want to write to the station manager thanking FGW for installing this equipment, as its advice has eliminated the injuries I suffer when I normally cartwheel down the stairs whilst juggling fire.

 

[Schnellzug]

What about the infamous one at Plymouth that automatically triggers when using the stairs? "Please use the handrail and take care using the stairs".

I always want to write to the station manager thanking FGW for installing this equipment, as its advice has eliminated the injuries I suffer when I normally cartwheel down the stairs whilst juggling fire.

They're recommending you slide down the handrail? Perhaps they're thinking about doing some skateboarding tricks.

 

[Hydro]

They're recommending you slide down the handrail? Perhaps they're thinking about doing some skateboarding tricks.

Don't say that. In two weeks the announcement may be updated to say "Please hold onto the handrail" to eliminate any ridiculously unlikely confusion!

 

[SS4]

I've noticed you only need to mind the gap and make sure you have your personal belongings with you if you're getting off at a terminal station. Anywhere inbetween you're fine to leave your bag behind

Not on the Cross City where they remind you at New St before going on to Longbridge/Redditch

 

[Michael.Y]

Another one of Doris'/Annie's favourite phrases

"Please keep an eye on luggage and personal belongings at all times. Unidentified items could be removed and destroyed without notice by the security services. If you see anything suspicious, please inform a member of the onboard staff immediately.

So what happens if you find the on board staff suspicious?

 

[Nym]

Another automated announcement that annoys me is at Manchester Piccadilly, where a voice warns very frequently:-
"Security personnel patrol this station 24-hours a day"

I always add under my breath "and they're getting pretty tired now"

"Security personnel tour this station, 24 hours a day" Actually, (I practically live there and on a quiet night can hear the announcements in the office I work in)

Don't say that. In two weeks the announcement may be updated to say "Please hold onto the handrail" to eliminate any ridiculously unlikely confusion!

But then where will the breath in breath out announcements fit?

Another one of Doris'/Annie's favourite phrases

"Please keep an eye on luggage and personal belongings at all times. Unidentified items could be removed and destroyed without notice by the security services. If you see anything suspicious, please inform a member of the onboard staff immediately.

So what happens if you find the on board staff suspicious?

Tell them they look suspicious...

 

[Greenback]

The reason for it is more than just semantics. To me, the use of the word is a by-product of this delusion that has taken hold in the industry that somehow we're not running a railway. We're running an airline or a supermarket or something.

Perhaps the term was originally introduced to counter this very feeling that the railway is somehow divorced from other service providers (whether they be airlines, supermarkets or whatever) and can treat passengers in a different, and probably ifnerior manner?

Also, what you call people is important too. Using the c-word implies that the passenger is always right, and that they have no responsibilities. (Not having NRCoC on paper doesn't help there). Same reason in my previous job at a hotel, I refused to go along with referring to guests as "residents". Reason being that if you call someone a resident, it gives them license to act like it's their house and that there aren't rules.

It is important. But the customer is not always right, and that equally applies to supermarkets and airlines. I also think that it is quite rare to directly address someone staying in a hotel as a resident, a guest or a customer, so I don't really understand why someone might think they can do whatever they want, just beacuse a hotel refers to them as a resident in its internal communications.

 

[Blindtraveler]

this thread has had my laughing uncontrollably. Thanks all.

On the subject that origionally started this topick, an EC station assistant I meet regularly put it like this - when your buying a tiket or purchasing products and services onboard your a customer. When your bumb is on that seat and all quiet your a passenger and as soon as anything goes wrong your a ***ing nusence!

 

[curly42]

"We are now approaching London Paddington,which will be the final destination for this service today". !!!???!!! (heard recently).

Different things annoy different people for different reasons - I don't know why people still use the term "Guard" - the grade dissapeared in October 1988 with the introduction of the Trainmans Concept.

The more things change,the more they stay the same.

 

[Greenback]

"We are now approaching London Paddington,which will be the final destination for this service today". !!!???!!! (heard recently).

Different things annoy different people for different reasons - I don't know why people still use the term "Guard" - the grade dissapeared in October 1988 with the introduction of the Trainmans Concept.

The more things change,the more they stay the same.

It has been previously stated on the forum that the term guard is still valid and relevant as long as it is used in The Rule Book!

 

[Cliveblackpool]

The problem with automated messages, they're a bit background noise and often not understood or simply ignored!

 

[curly42]

It has been previously stated on the forum that the term guard is still valid and relevant as long as it is used in The Rule Book!

That may well be the case (and obviously is,as I've read the relevant postings) but I don't have to agree or like it !!!

 

[WestCoast]

This is what happened on London Overground when the announcement system played out every recording available:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct9COwWu69k - over 6 minutes of announcements!

Some great examples - "the evacuation steps have been deployed, please calmly evacuate", "sorry this train is running X minutes late", "due to disruption this train will run non-stop to its destination after stopping at the next station" e.t.c.

 

[daikilo]

this thread has had my laughing uncontrollably. Thanks all.

On the subject that origionally started this topick, an EC station assistant I meet regularly put it like this - when your buying a tiket or purchasing products and services onboard your a customer. When your bumb is on that seat and all quiet your a passenger and as soon as anything goes wrong your a ***ing nusence!

Checking my Oxford dictionary, he/she is probably in essence correct. You are a customer when you make the transaction. The travel is the good that you transacted i.e. in this case the right to be a user or passenger. The word "passenger" clearly applies to the travel itself. And as for when things go wrong, this is why most companies have "customer service" because they want you to remain a customer and also why, if you are understanding and cooperative they are sometimes not unhappy to thank you for your indulgence. Indeed, they want to retain your custom.

An interesting case of semantics appears if you buy your ticket on the train as you are both a passenger during the travel and a customer when you purchase the ticket. Indeed, should a passenger arrive at his/her destination without having purchased the appropriate ticket, he/she has never been a customer but presumably a thief.

I have been unable to establish when the abreviation "pax" appeared although it seems to be in the early/mid-1900s and possibly in airliner load-sheets in the USA.

 

[Schnellzug]

"We are now approaching London Paddington,which will be the final destination for this service today". !!!???!!! (heard recently). .

You mean, they decided not to go off down the Hammersmith & City Line to Edgware Road, then?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It has been previously stated on the forum that the term guard is still valid and relevant as long as it is used in The Rule Book!

SWT call them that, at any rate.

 

[BestWestern]

All the time that the Rule Book uses the term Guard then that is the proper title for the job, and in addition to that the same applies all the while the job still involves the safety critical protection duties ,a requirement to know shunting handsignals, and so on. Conductor implies that the job merely involves clipping tickets, and Train Manager is just daft. Yes, you are managing the train by but that measure it should apply to everybody in the role, not just the certain TOCs who happen to like using it for certain trains. A journey from the south coast to the north of England or Scotland could involve three trains with a Guard, a TM and then a Conductor. Again, it is too much fragmentation and personal preference resulting in poor customer service across one network. A single, sensible term for the people who do the same job, regardless of the train, is far more logical. Guard fits the bill just fine.

 

[curly42]

All the time that the Rule Book uses the term Guard then that is the proper title for the job, and in addition to that the same applies all the while the job still involves the safety critical protection duties ,a requirement to know shunting handsignals, and so on. Conductor implies that the job merely involves clipping tickets, and Train Manager is just daft. Yes, you are managing the train by but that measure it should apply to everybody in the role, not just the certain TOCs who happen to like using it for certain trains. A journey from the south coast to the north of England or Scotland could involve three trains with a Guard, a TM and then a Conductor. Again, it is too much fragmentation and personal preference resulting in poor customer service across one network. A single, sensible term for the people who do the same job, regardless of the train, is far more logical. Guard fits the bill just fine.

Which is exactly what I argued at the meetings held to finalise the Trainmans concept in late 1987/early 1988,only to be told by the "higher ups" that times change and that the term "Guard" would no longer be in use or be acceptable after October 1988.
What a long time ago that seems now.