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Poll
Question: Are there too many on train announcements?  (Voting closed: July 03, 2021, 03:54:09)
Yes - there should be less - 24 (85.7%)
There are about the right numbers - 1 (3.6%)
No - there should be more - 0 (0%)
Don't know - not thought about it - 0 (0%)
Doesn't matter to me - 3 (10.7%)
Total Voters: 28

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Author Topic: On train announcements - number to be reduce??  (Read 3309 times)
grahame
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« on: June 28, 2021, 03:54:09 »

From ITV News

Quote
Repetitive train announcements to hit the buffers

For many train passengers on daily commutes, they're up there with rail replacement buses for sheer tedium and annoyance.

Repetitive announcements urging people to "See it, say it, sorted", apologising for the late running of services, informing you of what station the train is approaching and has just left and encouraging travellers to take a moment to read the safety instructions leave many a commuter reaching for the volume button on their ear buds.

Now, though, it seems these announcements could soon terminate here.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps has promised in a recent white paper that: "There will be fewer annoying and repetitious recorded announcements."

The Sunday Times reports that on a journey from Manchester to London last week, passengers endured 17 pre-recorded messages, including three mentions of the security plea to see it and get it sorted.

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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2021, 09:07:15 »

Yes, there are too many.  And also too many manual announcements that are far too l-o-n-g - I’ve had a bit of a moan about that before.

It’s not just on-train announcements either.  Station announcements are just as bad.

Let us hope this initiative comes to something.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2021, 10:59:49 »

Arrival/departure info need to be given for those with sight issues, so I’m not fussed with those before/after each station…but otherwise yes
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Bob_Blakey
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« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2021, 14:34:00 »

Arrival/departure info need to be given for those with sight issues, so I’m not fussed with those before/after each station…but otherwise yes

...and the on-train PIS (Passenger Information System) screens need to be used properly for those with hearing issues.
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« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2021, 17:33:28 »

It also helps if they have the correct announcements for the service, although this might be peculiar to the RDG(resolve) - WAT services.
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Red Squirrel
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« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2021, 18:16:51 »

I suppose it's hard to get this right, but these messages can be rather frustrating. For me, the worst thing is when you've paused a conversation while the message plays, and then just as you think it's over and start to talk again it pipes up again with one of the standard messages that's repeated ad nauseam.

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eightonedee
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« Reply #6 on: June 28, 2021, 18:34:19 »

While we are having a good moan-

I cannot find a voting button for my views, which are-

1 - Yes - cut the "See it, say it, sorted" type of announcement.

2 - Yes - if they are automated, get them right! Nearly 20 years of commuting on Turbos with frequent problems including - announcements from the wrong line, announcements one or two stations out, in "reverse" order - often linked to the same problem on the "walking writing" internal signage.

3 - Get the volume right - often they are too quiet (useless - and often the case with announcements by train crew which are often given when things are going wrong and passengers really want to hear them) and just sometimes unbearably loud.

4 - Each station should be announced clearly shortly before arrival.

5 - We should not forget the needs of the visually impaired - so concentrate on telling people where they are and where they are going.


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FarWestJohn
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« Reply #7 on: June 28, 2021, 19:21:28 »

All it needs is arriving at and next station is ****

It does not need 'this a Great western service to ****'  twice at every stop.

Starting from PNZ it is never ending.

Drives me mad so I wear ear defenders

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broadgage
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« Reply #8 on: June 28, 2021, 20:20:20 »

One advantage of GBR (Great British Railways) should be a reduction in the LENGTH of announcements.

Olde style "This is the First great western service for Taunton, the next station stop is Reading. Thank you for travelling with first great western"

New style "This train is for Taunton, the next stop is Reading"
Simply reducing the branding announcements has roughly halved the length of the announcements. And replacing "station stop" with simply "stop" saves a bit more.
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It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
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johnneyw
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« Reply #9 on: June 28, 2021, 21:12:04 »

Over the years, I think I've developed an immunity to them...which can be unfortunate when I've switched off prior to an announcement being made to which I might have wished to have paid more attention.
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #10 on: June 28, 2021, 21:18:23 »

"Station stop" is annoying and seems like a tautology, but I've always understood (possibly incorrectly) that it was for the sake of precision. Not every station is stopped at and not every stop is for a station (although it should be). Arguably passengers don't need to know about the stations not stopped at and there should be no chance of anyone mistakenly alighting when the train has stopped due to a red signal (which there could have been in the slam door days). And however precise the phrase is, it's ugly.
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #11 on: June 28, 2021, 21:24:17 »

What information do people need to know about the train?
While waiting on the platform:
  • Where the train is going
  • What other stations it calls at
  • If their ticket is valid on it

Once on the train:
  • Announcement of the next station (to be stopped at) in good time to gather belongings etc, bearing in mind some people are slower moving
  • Destination and next stop for reassurance to newly boarded passengers

Your list may vary.
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TonyK
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« Reply #12 on: June 28, 2021, 22:01:57 »

Virgin Trains have the worst "Attention everybody!" music, with a sort of synthesised jingle that sounds like the Moonpig ad played on a number of slightly out of tune Rolf Harris Stylophones. Then follows the various entreaties to mind your luggage, read the safety card, and next station information, some of it accurate. GWR (Great Western Railway) are a little less intrusive, but still annoying. I know we live in an age of risk aversion and over-cautious warnings in every walk of life to protect the business from being sued, but the more I hear a message, the less I listen to it.
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jamestheredengine
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« Reply #13 on: June 28, 2021, 23:10:57 »

1 - Yes - cut the "See it, say it, sorted" type of announcement.
And even more so TfW's awful epic pre-recorded bilingual announcement exhorting people to wash their hands, keep their distance, pay their fares, tuck their shirt in, avoid having their luggage blown up by the British Transport Police, and mind the gap between the train and the platform. If they got Reginald Bosanquet to read it, it might end up in the charts.
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« Reply #14 on: June 28, 2021, 23:56:53 »

Where a train is running to schedule:

Once between stations - very occasionally twice (on the start AND ten minutes before next arrival on runs of over 25 minutes):

This is the train for stations to Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance. The next stop will be Taunton in about 10 minutes. Change at Taunton for connections to Bridgewater, and for stations to Minehead.

Upon arrival in each station:

This is Taunton. This is the train for stations to Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance. The next stop [for passengers] will be Exeter St Davids.

When a train is being held up and delay length is unknown:

We are being held at a signal because of animals on the line ahead of us.  I don't know how long we will be here, but it should not be too long.  I will give you a further update when we get moving, or in 15 minutes if we're still here.

When the train has been held up and delay length is known - on the end of between station announcements:

We are running around 25 minutes late due to animals on the line earlier in the journey. We may be delayed by a few minutes as we carry on because we have lost our booked path on the line, and have to get through as best we can around all the other trains
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