Trains told to get rid of torrent of 'Tannoy spam'

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60069429

Trains told to get rid of torrent of 'Tannoy spam'

If you're a commuter returning to the office after a long period of working from home, you may soon notice a subtle difference on your morning train.

In the next few months, rail chiefs will be getting rid of unnecessary announcements to make journeys quieter.
Examples of so-called "Tannoy spam" include telling passengers to have their tickets ready and, ironically, to keep the noise down.

But the Department for Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) said key safety messages would remain.

[infoman]

I think the station announcements are worse,like at Bristol Parkway and BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)),

one side of the station is saying something and then the near side of the station starts saying something different.

[CyclingSid]

For public transport in general there needs to be a system that adjusts the volume to the ambient noise; louder when there is more background noise (prime example is losing the announcement as the North Downs line climbs out of Guildford towards North Camp), and quieter when there is less engine noise, points etc. Applies just as much to stations and buses.

[TaplowGreen]

Being discussed on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Breakfast now.......

[stuving]

For public transport in general there needs to be a system that adjusts the volume to the ambient noise; louder when there is more background noise (prime example is losing the announcement as the North Downs line climbs out of Guildford towards North Camp), and quieter when there is less engine noise, points etc. Applies just as much to stations and buses.

While I hesitate to suggest more software in trains ... if you can do that you can also measure not just the sound output level but whether there is any. If the system arrives for maintenance with a list of exactly which bits need checking or replacement, having caught intermittent faults as well as permanent ones, it's much more feasible to get it fixed.

[Mark A]

I think the station announcements are worse,like at Bristol Parkway and BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)),

one side of the station is saying something and then the near side of the station starts saying something different.

Swindon platform 4.  A motion-activated announcement about being careful on the stairs - in a busy space also used as a waiting area, so said announcement triggers 120 times in half an hour. *rolls eyes emoji*.

Speaking of motion-activated, any station with motion activated lighting that goes from black to blinding for two minutes every time the sole passenger on the station moves a muscle.

(Off-topic: energy saving office workspace lighting that goes out every two minutes unless the occupant raises their arms above their head...)

[Electric train]

.................. and then in the future there will be complaints at the lack of announcements

[Surrey 455]

Swindon platform 4.  A motion-activated announcement about being careful on the stairs

I find the same announcement at Slough very irritating.

(Off-topic: energy saving office workspace lighting that goes out every two minutes unless the occupant raises their arms above their head...)

They have these in the public toilets at Slough Queensmere shopping centre. When the lights went off whilst in a cubicle, the sensors couldn't detect me. Perhaps in the wrong place or faulty.

[Bmblbzzz]

(Off-topic: energy saving office workspace lighting that goes out every two minutes unless the occupant raises their arms above their head...)

They have these in the public toilets at Slough Queensmere shopping centre. When the lights went off whilst in a cubicle, the sensors couldn't detect me. Perhaps in the wrong place or faulty.

Perhaps your motions were insufficient. 

[ellendune]

Rail network definitely not being micromanaged by ministers is it. 

[FarWestJohn]

I have ear defenders when I use the train in Cornwall, never ending station stop info drives me mad.

[PhilWakely]

The one on-train announcement that bugs me is the 'Do not enter or leave the train when the doors are closing', which invariably sounds after the doors have closed and the train is pulling away.

[Reading General]

Those pesky TFL^▸ (Transport for London) travel updates at Reading (General) across all platforms. I’m sure anyone who is going there will have a clever little device in their hand and find out on the journey or once they arrive.

[grahame]

Some comments from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) article.  Many a true word ...

Yesterday I found out it would cost £130 to get from Birmingham to Newcastle by train.

I can get a flight for £25.

There are far bigger issues with the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)'s railways than tannoy announcements.

Of all the things that need addressing with rail in the UK I am going to put this one at 742 on the list of priorities.

Fair point from the shadow transport secretary - far more important is the cost of short-journey rail fares now.

For me to park at my local station and take an 18-mile day return journey into London now costs over £30. That's £150 per week for a 25 min journey each way.

As I am also allowed to work from home, guess what I will be doing?

Given Leeds - Manchester electrification has been ‘announced’ in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2021 but not expected until the early 2030s I know how frustrating banal railway announcements can be ...'

[JayMac]

Once again we see someone compare a flight price booked in advance with a walk up train fare. 

And if you want to fly from Birmingham to Newcastle at the moment you'll have to change at either Dublin or Amsterdam. Anything between 4.5 to 12 hours journey time. Excluding airport transfers and check-in.

3.5 hours city centre to city centre by train. With Advance fares starting at £23.00.

I agree with the last comment grahame quoted though. Far to many repetitive announcements about trains from Grant Shapps and previous transport ministers.