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

[whole diary]

[chrisoates]

Just been told that they have been fitted? Any truth in this?

Not yesterday - had a delightful TM^‡(resolve) who was turning his announcements into a sort of prose.

Other TMs have made me laugh, 'now arriving at Camborne...famous for it's hill'

One in Devon who gave a good talk on local geography.

And a train that calls at lots of places that are perfectly pronounced but ends up in Glaaaaaaarrrrrster.

I wouldn't mind some recordings of these chaps (haven't heard an amusing Lady TM (yet))

[12hoursunday]

Just been told that they have been fitted? Any truth in this?

This question was asked months ago (April in fact). Most power cars are fitted with the units which will automaticlly call the guard when he/she is required by the driver.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=2509.15

I expect that this is what the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) will be getting!

HST's aren't getting automated announcments. Atleast I haven't heard different.

Oh yes they are. A number of sets are fitted already! But you will pleased to know that it for the time being to enable the driver to contact the guard to order his tea or to let him know if being delayed/diverted etc. So listen out for the This is a staff announcment " will the train manager please contact the driver I've got a funny feeling it won't end there!

[thetrout]

This question was asked months ago (April in fact). Most power cars are fitted with the units which will automaticlly call the guard when he/she is required by the driver.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=2509.15

This is indeed correct I've heard the announcement on numerous occasions. "Would The Train Manager Please Contact The Driver" Most of the time, we are stopped by signals or the Driver wants a cuppa

[IndustryInsider]

The HST^▸ (High Speed Train) announcement triggers automatically when the driver has tried to get hold of the Train Manager with a 3-3 buzzer code and the TM^‡(resolve) hasn't responded within a set time - 10 seconds I think?

[chrisoates]

the ones on the  swt class 159's can be amusing at torquay sometimes.... now arriving at paignton this is your final destination... the number of angry faces as they realise they have to get back on after the mad rush to get off 

I was on a SWT^▸ (South West Trains) 158 today and noticed a silly thing - the display shows the next station name and the voice announces it, if you are dozing or mp3'ing and don't look up quickly you don't know where you are because the display immediately goes blank until the train starts again.

   

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

the ones on the  swt class 159's can be amusing at torquay sometimes.... now arriving at paignton this is your final destination... the number of angry faces as they realise they have to get back on after the mad rush to get off 

I was on a SWT^▸ (South West Trains) 158 today and noticed a silly thing - the display shows the next station name and the voice announces it, if you are dozing or mp3'ing and don't look up quickly you don't know where you are because the display immediately goes blank until the train starts again.



I have also noticed this I don't think it's a fault just not thought out very well

   

[Super Guard]

the ones on the  swt class 159's can be amusing at torquay sometimes.... now arriving at paignton this is your final destination... the number of angry faces as they realise they have to get back on after the mad rush to get off 

It'll be interesting to see how many people this weekend get off terminating trains at St. Davids having 'not heard' the announcements to get off at Tiverton Parkway and catch the fast bus to Plymouth 

[Tim]

Auto announcements are aweful.  I'd much rather have a live human voice and reckon autoannouncemnets are much more likely to be ignored

[John R]

the ones on the  swt class 159's can be amusing at torquay sometimes.... now arriving at paignton this is your final destination... the number of angry faces as they realise they have to get back on after the mad rush to get off 

It'll be interesting to see how many people this weekend get off terminating trains at St. Davids having 'not heard' the announcements to get off at Tiverton Parkway and catch the fast bus to Plymouth 

Sometimes you can barely hear the announcements in HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train). I'm not sure why it's so variable. Yesterday my train back to Nailsea was in reverse formation, which can lead to confusion with SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) at the station. Even though I strained to hear the announcement I couldn't, so it was no surprise when people stood in the wrong place. The TM^‡(resolve) was quite ratty with them until I pointed out that nobody could hear her announcement as to which coaches were being platformed.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Agreed, John: the volume / clarity of HST^▸ (High Speed Train) on-board announcements is very variable.

The only consistency seems to be that the loudest announcements are those broadcast in the quiet carriage??? 

[devon_metro]

Might have smething to do with the fact that coach a houses the guards PA^▸ (Public Address) equipment along with the buffet?

[Btline]

The wiring can't be much good. The guard often has to do the announcements twice. Once for the front of the train, then for the back coaches.

This is because the sound does not seem to travel. You often hear a faint announcement, followed by a clear one.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Maybe this http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/phone.html would work better? 

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

surly the public address system on trains needs to be working not just for customer services but also for h&s?

[thetrout]

Some of the PA^▸ (Public Address) speakers in First Class when they do the announcements on HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s you can't hear because it's so distorded, Its sometimes so loud that it's painful to listen to 

Dodgey wiring I would say