FGW Statement on Quiet Carriages

[whole diary]

[Andy]

This week I travelled in a "quiet" IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) carriage on a four-hour journey to Bristol. It was anything but quiet, not because of rowdy passengers, screaming children, or misuse of mobile devices but simply because of the relentless stream of automated announcements reminding us to take all our luggage with us, "mind the gap", "be careful when getting off the train", "see it say it sorted", et cetera, between every single station....

Next time, I'm going to see what percentage of the journey time is accompanied by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)-generated noise.

If rail journeys are going to consist of a continuous onslaught of repeated recorded messages (all of which are simultaneously displayed on the screens), I think I'll be forced to find another means of travel.



 

[Mark A]

That the person voicing the announcements cannot pronounce their 'R's is a particularly good touch - so we have multiples of an enthusiastically delivered 'Welcome to Gweat Western Wailway!'

Mark

[nickswift99]

Perhaps the person behind the voice was part of the crowd in the Holy Grail asking for Roderick to be freed?

[infoman]

Lets put a positive spin on this issue

Did chiltern not consider putting in glass that would not allow the phone signal to enter or be transmitted whilst in the quiet coach

announcement "noise" to be lowered

better signage

NO TABLE SEATS,put all the table seats in the coach next to the first class for the familys,then all the familys would know where the family friendly coach was

no more that TWO seat reservations per booking in the quiet coach, that could stop the hen and stag party fraternity 

Volo type screens on all the backs of seats,so all the safety messages  could be scrolling for a short while

disconnect all the power points to stop those using their smacky key board lap tops whilst they have ear pieces stuck in their ears

and stops anyone charging up their phones

Then something you can all do for your selves,go into the coach shortly before departure,

and if its not too busy shout in a raised,but not loud voice IS THIS THE QUIET COACH?

[grahame]

Lets put a positive spin on this issue ...

Look at it the other way - designate some coaches as "happy to chat" coaches?

[FarWestJohn]

You are right. I cannot stand all the unnecessary automatic announcements and drive long distance trips now and in Cornwall get the bus.

[ChrisB]

NO TABLE SEATS,put all the table seats in the coach next to the first class for the familys,then all the familys would know where the family friendly coach was

Sure? Everyone I know that likes sitting at a table would beeline for those tables & families would miss out! Sorry, but I like my table seat - why should it only be for familes?

[Richard Fairhurst]

I don't mind the automated announcements to be honest. They're predictable and you quickly learn to tune them out. Though the sudden change of voice for "Worcestershire Parkway" still catches me out.

[johnneyw]

I've haven't found them too intrusive.  I wasn't really all that aware of how often they are repeated.....until now!