What makes a good on train announcement?

[CaptainHaddock]

Talking here mainly about trains which do not yet have an automated PA

What makes the on board announcement good or exceptionally good in your view? what kind of information do you value hearing?

What could be done better?

Scrap all the health&safetybollox for a start!

No waffle about the train being fully non smoking, the ban's been in place for years now, everyone knows.
No waffle about unattended luggage, not only is it no threat to anyone, it's totally contradictory as in the next breath they tell you to store your luggage in the rack at the end of the carriage which may be some distance from your seat! (I'm thinking XC here!)
No waffle about reading safety information posters, I've never seen anyone take a blind bit of notice of them and as each type of emergency could require a different course of action, the poster can't cover every eventuality.

Just tell me where the train's going, where it's calling on the way and, if delayed, what the cause is.

Finally do it in a seductive, husky Scottish accent (if female) or in the voice of Roger Moore (if male)!

 

[Tracky]

I thought a comment may crop up on here about the TrainFX system fitted to ATW 158s during their recent refurb.

 

[transmanche]

Here's a sample of what I would use on a train (in this case the 06:28 XC from Penzance, approaching Newcastle).

On approaching a major station:
"We're approaching Newcastle. Doors will open on the left. Change for the Metro and for services to Sunderland, Metrocentre, Carlisle and Morpeth. If you're leaving the train, don't forget to check that you've got everything with you - and thank you travelling with CrossCountry. This train is for Glasgow Central."

On arrival at a major station:
"This is Newcastle. Change for the Metro and for services to Sunderland, Metrocentre, Carlisle and Morpeth."

During the station dwell:
"This is train XC1120, the CrossCountry service to Glasgow Central. The next stop is Alnmouth. Tickets marked "Valid on East Coast only" cannot be used on this CrossCountry train.

On departure:
"This is train XC1120, the CrossCountry service to Glasgow Central. Calling at; Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edinburgh, Haymarket, Motherwell and Glasgow Central. First class is located in coach X at the rear of the train. Coach Y at the front of the train is the Quiet coach. An at seat trolley service of drinks and snacks is available."


Obviously for this to work, station departure boards will need to show the train number - as will the new-style Advance tickets. As the tickets will clearly state that travel is only permitted on train XC1120, there's no need to repeat this on announcements. It also gets around all the messing about reading out times, which gets a bit daft when the train is late - and it'll help stop peopel getting on the wrong train when they're running out of sequence.

 

[387star]

Coming from hastings through the tunnel into St leonards WS, you get the moment you come into the 'light'.
This is a Southern Service to 'Brighton'*, the next station is St Leonards Warrior Square. This is a Southern service to 'Brighton', we are now approaching St leonards warrior Square. Drives me nuts.


* or could be London Victoria.

Warblington to Havant is the worst

 

[thealexweb]

Good connections that are well used are a nice bonus.