When will excessive announcements cease?

[bramling]

Even though I have never been anywhere near terrorist 'events' and rarely affected by measures taken to deal with the aftermath, I think increased audible (and visual) messaging about them and other hazards is a minor irritation that pales into insignificance compared to the dreadful and often life-changing impact of what they aretrying to prevent. It's a matter of opinion whether the messaging achieves its aim, but much of the debate in this thread is focused on specific personal irritations rather than wholesale assaults on the population's mental health.

I’m in two minds about all this. Yes announcements in themselves are a minor irritant, however the wider climate of fear created is more wearing. Reality is the chance of being on the receiving end of a terrorist attack is pretty minimal, and vigilance isn’t necessarily going to prevent it anyway. I feel I have a much greater chance of being killed or injured by an intoxicated driver on a Thursday evening, yet as a society we seem to tolerate that sort of thing.

 

[AM9]

I’m in two minds about all this. Yes announcements in themselves are a minor irritant, however the wider climate of fear created is more wearing. Reality is the chance of being on the receiving end of a terrorist attack is pretty minimal, and vigilance isn’t necessarily going to prevent it anyway. I feel I have a much greater chance of being killed or injured by an intoxicated driver on a Thursday evening, yet as a society we seem to tolerate that sort of thing.

Here we go again, agreeing to each other: yup, just like to say that tolerance of any drink driving is one the most despicable acts of our society that claims to be civilised. Obviously Thursday evening isn't a good one to be out on the streets in your part of Hertfordshire - other evenings are available. Better leave it at that or the OT police will banish me.

As far as on board or station messages go, I can usually ignore them adequately.

 

[Bikeman78]

The idea is that you never know what the next threat will be, so by keeping the warning general people will be looking for anything, rather than specifically unattended bags or whatever.

I think that if we need to be reminded about terrorism every time we go on a train, the terrorists have won. Why are trains being singled out? Since 7/7, most of the attacks have not been on trains.

 

[AM9]

I think that if we need to be reminded about terrorism every time we go on a train, the terrorists have won. Why are trains being singled out? Since 7/7, most of the attacks have not been on trains.

Maybe because in addition to the announcements, other measures are undertaken to dissuade potential activists that the railway is not such an easy target.

 

[Bikeman78]

I’m in two minds about all this. Yes announcements in themselves are a minor irritant, however the wider climate of fear created is more wearing. Reality is the chance of being on the receiving end of a terrorist attack is pretty minimal, and vigilance isn’t necessarily going to prevent it anyway.

Exactly this. The risk has been blown out of all proportion. What is the motive behind it I wonder?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2022 ==

Maybe because in addition to the announcements, other measures are undertaken to dissuade potential activists that the railway is not such an easy target.

So why no announcements in other potential targets? Anyway, the target doesn't have to be easy. Some attacks around the world reportedly took years of planning.

 

[Sonik]

I agree it is scaremongering, but there are threats to be concerned about.

I have to say, I remain to be convinced about that.

It would be better if there was more transparency about these matters instead of casting fear indiscriminately. I'm I'm not exactly sure who it's all aimed at.

 

[trainophile]

Unattended luggage isn't suspicious, its pretty commonplace.

Which nicely illustrates my point about how are people supposed to know what they should be wary of, what "doesn't look right", and what they should report.

 

[Kite159]

One sort of announcement which could easily be done away with is number of carriages on those routes served by only one train type, i.e the Overground between Richmond & Stratford. Great Northern inners etc

 

[Parallel]

One sort of announcement which could easily be done away with is number of carriages on those routes served by only one train type, i.e the Overground between Richmond & Stratford. Great Northern inners etc

Also the TOC when they are the only one that operate from that station. I think Chiltern do this already, as do SWR at Waterloo. Of course, the TOC could be mentioned on delay announcements >15 minutes so passengers will know who to claim from.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I've just skim-read this topic, and it seems that I'm in a small minority (at least among members of this site) of people who aren't overly irritated by announcements. Perhaps it's because I always have earphones in, albeit with the volume low enough that I can tell when an announcement is being made and remove one earphone while I determine whether it's relevant.

The See It, Say It, Sorted message is a bit annoying because it's so repetitive... and I do wonder if so many announcements about things that aren't immediately of any use might cause a sort of "PA fatigue" in people and cause them to tune out all announcements as irrelevant, thus missing information that IS relevant.

The only ones that really bug me are when there's one about a strike that happened three days ago. Come on Northern, once the date has passed those messages need turning off. It just makes you look amateurish.

 

[43066]

Exactly this. The risk has been blown out of all proportion. What is the motive behind it I wonder?

I didn’t realise we were talking about Covid (sorry).

I agree. It does seem that people are a lot more fearful of basically everything, these days, so companies presumably feel they have to pander to this by indulging in security theatre. Exactly the same happens at airports, of course. However the fact that at least some of these announcements are required by government diktat does make the whole thing seem a little more sinister, somehow!

 

[bramling]

I've just skim-read this topic, and it seems that I'm in a small minority (at least among members of this site) of people who aren't overly irritated by announcements. Perhaps it's because I always have earphones in, albeit with the volume low enough that I can tell when an announcement is being made and remove one earphone while I determine whether it's relevant.

The See It, Say It, Sorted message is a bit annoying because it's so repetitive... and I do wonder if so many announcements about things that aren't immediately of any use might cause a sort of "PA fatigue" in people and cause them to tune out all announcements as irrelevant, thus missing information that IS relevant.

The only ones that really bug me are when there's one about a strike that happened three days ago. Come on Northern, once the date has passed those messages need turning off. It just makes you look amateurish.

A good proportion of people don't seem to listen to *any* announcements. Whether this is due to announcement overload or other reasons I wouldn't like to say.

 

[takno]

I've just skim-read this topic, and it seems that I'm in a small minority (at least among members of this site) of people who aren't overly irritated by announcements. Perhaps it's because I always have earphones in, albeit with the volume low enough that I can tell when an announcement is being made and remove one earphone while I determine whether it's relevant.

The See It, Say It, Sorted message is a bit annoying because it's so repetitive... and I do wonder if so many announcements about things that aren't immediately of any use might cause a sort of "PA fatigue" in people and cause them to tune out all announcements as irrelevant, thus missing information that IS relevant.

The only ones that really bug me are when there's one about a strike that happened three days ago. Come on Northern, once the date has passed those messages need turning off. It just makes you look amateurish.

I find the constant need to take out the headphones to determine if the announcement is important or not is probably the worst bit tbh.

 

[Bikeman78]

I didn’t realise we were talking about Covid (sorry).

I agree. It does seem that people are a lot more fearful of basically everything, these days, so companies presumably feel they have to pander to this by indulging in security theatre. Exactly the same happens at airports, of course. However the fact that at least some of these announcements are required by government diktat does make the whole thing seem a little more sinister, somehow!

It seems to be another policy without an exit strategy. And why single out railways? Attacks can and do happen anywhere. I'm of the opinion that when my numbers up, that's it. If a lunatic gets on a train next to me, or gets in their car and runs me down, there is nothing I can do about it.

It's a very British solution. I can't think of anywhere else that bombards people with automatic announcements. I've been to New York a few times since 9/11. No silly announcements on the Subway. People are just getting on with their lives. Exactly as it should be, in my opinion.

 

[Tracked]

My last few visits to Doncaster, one of the last stations with fully live announcements have revealed a worrying new trend. Very long and complex announcements listing which coach letters align with which numbered zones on the platform. So, you get a time, a platform, a destination, the calling points, then a list of coach letters and zone numbers, it's way to much information to take in and is even worse when a 9 car substitutes for a 10 or vice versa and they try to get across all the changes to coaches and zones. They go on forever, very often garbled as quickly as possible and I can't imagine anyone listens to pick out the bit that applies to them

Noticed these several months ago, along with the louder speakers they're using, it's quite harsh and distracting with the amount that's announced, and only useful for managing passenger flows if the majority of passengers paid any attention to it; It's particularly noticeable that on Platform 3B that most passengers stand between the stairs and the end of the station canopy (even on days when it's not raining) before the train arrives, and with the announcements I've usually seen no more than a handful acting on the information afterwards.

Noticed the other day that extra display boards have gone up along the platforms with train info on, was going up to Edinburgh last Sunday, my reserved seat was on coach G - the fourth from the front - and I was one of only a handful who went and waited on P8 where their coach was going to be.

They work some of the time and maybe I just happen to be there at the weekend where they're not having as big an effect, maybe it needs more time before people change their behaviour, but it just looks at the moment like they've noticed people aren't standing in the right place and decided that more announcements are needed; when the issue might be more that better shelter from the elements needs to be provided, particularly at the far ends of Platform 3 & 8, or that whatever's done people are always going to get onto the platform and not go much further (when the 6-Car TPE services on I usually go to the 2nd unit and get a carriage to myself to Sheffield at least, when I used to get the Adwick train from Sheffield the carriage near the stairs was usually full, and the other carriage at the front half empty ).

 

[Malaxa]

Is there any point in incessant announcements for passengers to stand back from certain platform edges when no trains are scheduled to stop at these platforms all day and which indeed are fenced off? I think of Maryland on the EL. perhaps this also occurs at other EL stations. There is absolutely no need for any passenger to be on the unused platforms if indeed anyone can reach them. [Does the Maryland left still operate to platform 4 though for non-existent trains?]

 

[Tester]

Is there any point in incessant announcements for passengers to stand back from certain platform edges when no trains are scheduled to stop at these platforms all day and which indeed are fenced off? I think of Maryland on the EL. perhaps this also occurs at other EL stations. There is absolutely no need for any passenger to be on the unused platforms if indeed anyone can reach them. [Does the Maryland left still operate to platform 4 though for non-existent trains?]

Same for the fast line platforms at e.g. New Barnet.

 

[Horizon22]

Is there any point in incessant announcements for passengers to stand back from certain platform edges when no trains are scheduled to stop at these platforms all day and which indeed are fenced off? I think of Maryland on the EL. perhaps this also occurs at other EL stations. There is absolutely no need for any passenger to be on the unused platforms if indeed anyone can reach them. [Does the Maryland left still operate to platform 4 though for non-existent trains?]

There are regular Greater Anglia trains through those stations all the time. It's still a sensible message to play even when it is barriered off, and theoretically Elizabeth line trains could call there if divered. It plays at all stations for which there are slow and fast lines.

 

[Merle Haggard]

The platform alteration announcement is an example of one that's badly thought out, i.m.o.

It says 'The next train from Platform n is the nn.nn to X. This is a platform alteration'.

I only (usually) zone in on the many departure announcements at a busy station, for example, New St, when I hear my train. I then hear that its platform has been altered, but didn't take notice of which platform because it was at the start of just one of many announcements.

Why can't the announcement be 'Here is a platform alteration' - followed by the details?

...

As a pedant, I'm also irritated by the 'next fastest train'. That's a superlative, and therefore there can only be one - which might not be until a very long time into the future.

 

[zwk500]

There are regular Greater Anglia trains through those stations all the time. It's still a sensible message to play even when it is barriered off, and theoretically Elizabeth line trains could call there if divered. It plays at all stations for which there are slow and fast lines.

At Wolverton, there are regular announcements to stand back from the platform edge on the Up Fast, which is the back half of an island with the down slow but fenced off, but no announcements for the Down Fast, which is a separate side platform (WCML is paired by use, most stations are Side-Island-Side arrangement). Trains are regularly diverted onto the fast lines in both directions in the event of problems between Hanslope Jn and MKC/Ledburn Jn. I presume the logic is that the island platform being in regular use increases the risk, but it's still somewhat odd.

I'm personally of the opinion that the stand clear announcement should not be played if a platform is fenced off, even if it butts up against an active platform. unless there is disruption.

 

[Parallel]

I really hope they get the announcements on Platforms 13 & 14 under control at Manchester Piccadilly. In my opinion, they shouldn’t be using the system to bark at people constantly for being in front of the red line.

Even more infuriating is that manual announcements on the platform cut off the automated announcements in the Platform 13/14 concourse so you keep getting things like ‘Platform 13 for the 13:49 East…’ *silence*. Then a few minutes later ‘The 13:53 service to Chester is delayed by app *silence*. Just let the system do its thing as it’s set to announce the minimum anyway (one announcement per train as it approaches)

 

[londonmidland]

The platform alteration announcement is an example of one that's badly thought out, i.m.o.

It says 'The next train from Platform n is the nn.nn to X. This is a platform alteration'.

At what location does it say it like that?

 

[WizCastro197]

At what location does it say it like that?

It does this at Gatwick Airport. It mostly happens on platforms 1 and 2 as terminating services may arrive from London forcing a through service to London to be routed into a different platform. The announcer seems dead set that it is going to be platform 2, says it is platform 2 then quickly changes their mind to number 1 with a platform alteration.

 

[Merle Haggard]

At what location does it say it like that?

Certainly New St., ( where there is a particular difficulty if a train at the A end is re-platformed from one side to the other anyway) and I thought it was standard throughout the network. However, although this was the case before lockdown since then, in my experience platform alterations seem quite rare - presumably because of the less intense service..

One's first warning of a platform change at New St can be when the '1st train' is, due to delay, anticipated to arrive after the '2nd train'. Surprised that the logic allows it to show that, but I have experienced platform alterations about 2 minutes before departure.

 

[londonmidland]

Certainly New St.

Manual announcement I assume? They tend to manually announce everything there now as opposed to letting the automated announcement system do its job, which would simply say; ‘This is a platform alteration! The XX:XX service to (destination) will now depart from platform X’

 

[DC1989]

I find the new EL stations the worst. At Whitechapel the announcements literally never end

 

[TheSel]

How long, do we reckon, before - under disability discrimination legislation - we have to have these announcements simultaneously in British Sign Language [BSL], for the benefit of the deaf community? And, presumably, a BSL trained member of staff on every train (or one in every carriage?) to ensure that messages are not missed by those presently excluded from being made aware of such important information by virtue of their condition?

 

[fwsmVor]

How long, do we reckon, before - under disability discrimination legislation - we have to have these announcements simultaneously in British Sign Language [BSL], for the benefit of the deaf community? And, presumably, a BSL trained member of staff on every train (or one in every carriage?) to ensure that messages are not missed by those presently excluded from being made aware of such important information by virtue of their condition?

How long until it's ruled that hearing people are discriminated against by being distracted by endless nonsense? xP

 

[AM9]

How long, do we reckon, before - under disability discrimination legislation - we have to have these announcements simultaneously in British Sign Language [BSL], for the benefit of the deaf community? And, presumably, a BSL trained member of staff on every train (or one in every carriage?) to ensure that messages are not missed by those presently excluded from being made aware of such important information by virtue of their condition?

I hope so. Maybe I'm a bit wierd normal hearing/sight and speech capabilities, but I dont begrudge the provision of assistance for those that do need it.

 

[py_megapixel]

How long, do we reckon, before - under disability discrimination legislation - we have to have these announcements simultaneously in British Sign Language [BSL], for the benefit of the deaf community? And, presumably, a BSL trained member of staff on every train (or one in every carriage?) to ensure that messages are not missed by those presently excluded from being made aware of such important information by virtue of their condition?

I hope so. Maybe I'm a bit wierd normal hearing/sight and speech capabilities, but I dont begrudge the provision of assistance for those that do need it.

You do realise H&S and service information is provided in written form on signs?