Station and on board train announcements - merged topic, ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

Note the Trans-Wilts cancellations on the picture if you look carefully!

I didn't want to say 

[Graz]

Let's say it was a subtle hint! Actually the reason I originally took that was for STT^▸ (Save the Train), to show those cancellations

One thing I've always noticed is that Doris doesn't pronounce Keynsham right. She calls it 'Keensham' where in fact it should be 'Kaynsham'.
Another thing I've noticed, if you're ever at Gloucester/Chelt Spa, is if Willington is one of the stations a train is calling at it sounds like a different person announcing it!

[G.Uard]

Conductor training includes on train announcements. We were told to put personality into the PA^▸ (Public Address) and not to use Doris, (who is just about obsolete anyway, although she does kick in automatically after every 4th door opening with a safety briefing on some classes of unit).  Long boring rambles are also proscribed, but we have been instructed to find our own cheerful, clear and informative style.  Customers will probably be pleased to know that training is very customer focused and that we are constantly being told not to leave passengers without info at extended signal stops etc.

My group of trainees have been out and about  these past few days practising this.  Apart from a quickly corrected error in announcing the stations on a certain Bristol branch in the wrong order,  I think, (ok then...hope) that we did make journeys a little more interesting.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks very much for that particularly topical post, G.Uard!

Firstly, I have noticed much more informality in the on-board announcements recently - a welcome development of the crew 'telling it as it is', rather than the previous, rather stuffy, "First Great Western apologise for the possible inconvenience this may cause"?

Secondly, I was very pleasantly surprised to hear an on-board announcement on my train to BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) this morning, to the effect that, "If anyone needs to buy a ticket to this station, I'll be selling them at the back of the train for the next five minutes!"  Well, I was so impressed, I did just that - thanks, to that 'customer focused' member of train crew this morning!

And finally ... I (and many others) listened with interest to the very clear, clearly enunciated and increasingly firm announcements from the platform announcer at BTM this evening about the 'gentleman' who was apparently persisting in riding a bicycle on platform 3.  Just a shame someone from the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) office there didn't hear him and nip out to shove a truncheon between the culprit's wheel spokes!

 

[John R]

Yes I agree, and I think it is well received. A recent announcement at Temple Meads made reference to the awful weather, and passengers visibly smiled. So long as it doesn't degenerate into the somewhat amateurish and cheekie chappie approach that Virgin encouraged whilst running XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)), which often made me cringe.

I still puzzle though as to the mixed message it gives passengers when TMs^‡(resolve) invite them to buy tickets on the train, "to avoid a 20 minute wait at the barriers" as one TM said recently. One part of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) says you must buy a ticket before you board, whilst another acknowledges the ability and custom to buy on board. Still, that's probably a different thread....

[Super Guard]

I still puzzle though as to the mixed message it gives passengers when TMs^‡(resolve) invite them to buy tickets on the train, "to avoid a 20 minute wait at the barriers" as one TM said recently. One part of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) says you must buy a ticket before you board, whilst another acknowledges the ability and custom to buy on board. Still, that's probably a different thread....

You know TM's/Conductors earn commission on what they sell onboard 

[Chris from Nailsea]

You know TM^‡(resolve)'s/Conductors earn commission on what they sell onboard 

Yes, SDA, I do know - and I don't have any problem with that!  If the ticket machine at Nailsea isn't working, why shouldn't a very cheery chap sell me a ticket on the platform at BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) - and get some commission, as well as my gratitude, for so doing?? 

I still puzzle though as to the mixed message it gives passengers when TMs invite them to buy tickets on the train, "to avoid a 20 minute wait at the barriers" as one TM said recently.

Nonsense: I've never, ever, waited more than three or four minutes at the gates at BTM - they have a very efficient team there!  (I'd mention names, but don't want to cause embarrassment!) 

[Super Guard]

Chris, I was merely pointing out to John a possible reason for a TM^‡(resolve) being so willing to sell further tickets 

[Chris from Nailsea]

No problem!  I'm delighted to see 'revenue protection' working in real life, rather than 'fare dodging' being condoned!! 

[Btline]

I liked Virgin's guards! They made people chuckle (apart from the people getting off at the station!).

[devon_metro]

Alighting from a Voyager always makes me smile. Damn awful trains.

[Btline]

Alighting from a Voyager always makes me smile. Damn awful trains.

[swlines]

Alighting from a Voyager always makes me smile. Damn awful trains.

Boarding a Voyager always makes me want to hurl my insides out. Especially when boarding next to a toilet. Damn "toilets-were-designed-for-static-and-no-movement" trains.

[plymothian]

I really enjoyed standing on St Erth station listening to the automated PA^▸ (Public Address) announcing the 1747 would arrive next at my platform 3 times and it not appearing, then it was really comforting to find it had disappeared from the next train indicator and the next Paddington bound train was not until 22:something.  It was nice of National Rail enquiries to tell me they were experiencing large demand and the TrainTracker phoneline not having uptodate information, and finally after 25 minutes the PA telling the now very concerned passengers that the train was 25 minutes late and it arrive 5 minutes later.

[Phil]

I really enjoyed standing on St Erth station listening to the automated PA^▸ (Public Address) announcing the 1747 would arrive next at my platform 3 times and it not appearing, then it was really comforting to find it had disappeared from the next train indicator and the next Paddington bound train was not until 22:something.  It was nice of National Rail enquiries to tell me they were experiencing large demand and the TrainTracker phoneline not having uptodate information, and finally after 25 minutes the PA telling the now very concerned passengers that the train was 25 minutes late and it arrive 5 minutes later.

Oh, dear... nicely put, but.... oh