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

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Welcome to the forum, ldf1985

[Timmer]

I use Westbury station daily, which I believe still has the old 'Wessex Trains' announcement system.  Along with the screens, I think the system is very poor and unreliable.

For example...

1. Delayed trains just seem to 'disappear' from the announcments and screens, leading people to be believe that their train has been cancelled, when in fact, it is just running late.

2. Platform alterations announcements aren't announced at all, or are announced very late (usually as the train is approaching the 'altered to' platform).

3. Incorrect train information displayed on a screen (e.g. I've seen a Penzance service displayed as the 'Portsmouth Harbour' service, leading to mass confusion).

4. No 'reason for the delay', via the announcements, why a train is running late (Wessex did a very good job of doing this).

5. Announcement system seems to be incapable of announcing any delays over '99 Minutes'.  There was once a 2 hour late running Cardiff Central service, although she kept announcing 'delayed by approximately 99 minutes.  First Great Western APOLOGISES for this late running, and the inconvenience this may cause you'.

Welcome to the forum ldf1985.

Hopefully the current CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) system that remains at a number of ex-Wessex stations will be replaced by FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s plans to spend ^15million on upgrading customer information at stations.

All the points you make about the current system found at Westbury and other ex-Wessex stations I too have experienced. Its fine when all trains are running on time but its quite unerving when your train is running late and it just disappears from the screen and the next train appears. You have no idea whether your train is going to even turn up! No fun late at night when there are no staff to ask 'whats going on'?

[Jim]

I use Westbury station daily, which I believe still has the old 'Wessex Trains' announcement system.  Along with the screens, I think the system is very poor and unreliable.

For example...

1. Delayed trains just seem to 'disappear' from the announcments and screens, leading people to be believe that their train has been cancelled, when in fact, it is just running late.

2. Platform alterations announcements aren't announced at all, or are announced very late (usually as the train is approaching the 'altered to' platform).

3. Incorrect train information displayed on a screen (e.g. I've seen a Penzance service displayed as the 'Portsmouth Harbour' service, leading to mass confusion).

4. No 'reason for the delay', via the announcements, why a train is running late (Wessex did a very good job of doing this).

5. Announcement system seems to be incapable of announcing any delays over '99 Minutes'.  There was once a 2 hour late running Cardiff Central service, although she kept announcing 'delayed by approximately 99 minutes.  First Great Western APOLOGISES for this late running, and the inconvenience this may cause you'.

1. Thats how it happens, it automatically leaves the screen 5mins after booked slot unless staff add minutes.
2. Normally at Westbury, (and certainally last Sunday) some of them are unknown until the train comes in. It depends if there is anyone in the office to answer the phone telling them about it!
3. Sometimes with delays the system gets confused. I'm not going to give a whole essay on that point.
4. Delays reasons are I belive set up by control - and have no input from staff at Westbury.
5. Quite rare really to have even an FGW^▸ (First Great Western) train that late!!!!!

[devon_metro]

IMO^▸ (in my opinion), Westburys boards are very irritating.

For a start:

The 1942 might be delayed. But it will tell me 'Delay 17' minutes.

Why couldn't it just tell me expected 1959?

[Jim]

IMO^▸ (in my opinion), Westburys boards are very irritating.

For a start:

The 1942 might be delayed. But it will tell me 'Delay 17' minutes.

Why couldn't it just tell me expected 1959?

Not enough room on the screen I guess...?

[Jez]

I use Westbury station daily, which I believe still has the old 'Wessex Trains' announcement system.  Along with the screens, I think the system is very poor and unreliable.

For example...

1. Delayed trains just seem to 'disappear' from the announcments and screens, leading people to be believe that their train has been cancelled, when in fact, it is just running late.

2. Platform alterations announcements aren't announced at all, or are announced very late (usually as the train is approaching the 'altered to' platform).

3. Incorrect train information displayed on a screen (e.g. I've seen a Penzance service displayed as the 'Portsmouth Harbour' service, leading to mass confusion).

4. No 'reason for the delay', via the announcements, why a train is running late (Wessex did a very good job of doing this).

5. Announcement system seems to be incapable of announcing any delays over '99 Minutes'.  There was once a 2 hour late running Cardiff Central service, although she kept announcing 'delayed by approximately 99 minutes.  First Great Western APOLOGISES for this late running, and the inconvenience this may cause you'.

I cant fault Cardiff Central for their announcements - compaired to what it sounds like Westbury's are like they are good. They always give details of trains which are delayed and even announce when a train has been cancelled (although rarely give a reason why). They are also good at announcing platform alterations, although why is it that terminating trains at Cardiff Central, whenever they are supposed to terminate at platform 4 they end up terminating at platform 3 (and vice versa) and this means the announcer does a "platform alteration" announcement which is a bit daft really.

[Graz]

The display screen at Westbury is unique, I've never seen it anywhere else even in big ex-Wessex stations like Gloucester/Cheltenham Spa. Also any delay over 99 minutes (at other ex-Wessex stations at least) runs into the 100s.

I've found the ex-Wessex stations OK for the reasons for delays too, I've heard everything from "This is due to the train failure" to "This is due to the emergency situation on the train"...!

[thefab442]

I seem to recall once, in the mists of time (last January!), at Exeter Central during diversions...

"Your attention please on Platform 3, we are sorry that the 13xx First Great Western service to London Paddington has been cancelled. This is due to an earlier the train failure."

Quite interesting, however, to hear...

"Platform 3 for the 14xx First Great Western service to London Paddington. Calling at Honiton, Yeovil Junction, Yeovil Pen Mill, Castle Cary, Westbury, Pewsey, Newbury, Reading and London Paddington." (or similar). Was rather busy and we ended up waiting at Chard for ages for two down HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) to pass.

[Graz]

Wow, not bad for an alternative to London! Probably took ages though!

Chris - you posted a bit earlier about the station announcer at Bristol TM^‡(resolve), called Phil...is that the guy who has the very unique (and clear!) voice and announces almost every delayed train?

[John R]

He's excellent. Should win an award for clarity.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yes, I agree with John - Phil is a contender for a 'plain English' award for clearly pronounced, grammatically correct and accurate announcements!

He can also be heard above the inordinately loud 'digital female' voice from platform 5, too - they really ought to adjust the volume of those speakers on platform 5.   

[Graz]

You can hear that voice from the entire station, pretty much, and it very effectively drowns out the platform 3 voice which is on the contrary far too quiet!

Where in Temple Meads is Phil based? Always wondered about that

[Btline]

Phil does B'ham New Street and all the Leeds commuter stations as well (and more I have/ have not heard).

[dog box]

You can hear that voice from the entire station, pretty much, and it very effectively drowns out the platform 3 voice which is on the contrary far too quiet!

Where in Temple Meads is Phil based? Always wondered about that

Think its somewhere on platform 5,6 ,7 ,8

[ldf1985]

I've noticed over the last couple of weeks that the announcements at Westbury are a lot more 'punctual' and 'regular'.

'The train now approaching platform', and 'The train at platform' announcements seem to be more widely 'in use'.

For the first time ever, I heard the 'will passengers intending to travel on this service, please join the train now, as it is ready to leave' announcement, when a train was standing at a platform.

Out of interest, does a member of staff have to operate the announcement system at stations, or does it work automatically?

And finally, for the first time in months, I heard a delay reason given to a train - 'This is due to a shortage of serviceable trains'!!!