New Customer Information Systems

[whole diary]

[Super Guard]

Having been in contact with a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) customer panel member, can confirm that the announcements will not be provided by Phil and Celia, as at current HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) stations.

  Any reason why it can't be Celia ?

Surely if it was going to be Celia, the Customer panel member would say, the female voice currently used at Larger FGW stations?

No doubt they would, I was just asking if there was a logistical reason why it couldn't be Celia?  Is she an Amey maintained systems girl only?  And I have no doubt it'll be the "Paddington drone"... (I'm sure she's a lovely person, just not a voice I would like for my wife  )

[Louis94]

However I can confirm that the male voice will be the one played in the engineering announcements currently at HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) stations, this being a member of staff who works in Reading Control. Who the female voice is going to be is still unknown!

Yeah, I've heard him, he sounds like Phil Sayer junior!

As for the female voice, I expect it will be that Anne women.

Yeh, he does sound like Phil Sayer, very much! Which makes me think now that it could be Phil and Celia, if Phil can be misheard for him? and the reason for not commenting on the female voice because its staying the same? Have enquired, will keep you updated!

[grahame]

Would you like a copy of the PHP source for mine?

Received by p.m. - MANY thanks.   Weekend project ;-)

Having been in contact with a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) customer panel member, can confirm that the announcements will not be provided by Phil and Celia, as at current HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) stations ...

I'll bet that's one of the more unusual requests that the panel member has had.  I don't suppose that (s)he expected his/her time would be occupied with such lines or questioning when (s)he signed up for the role 

[ChrisB]

Don't be surprised when I tell you that I've received stranger ones than that from customers / passengers!

[Louis94]

Have recently heard from a friend who works at Plymouth, that the HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) stations are due to have alot more investment put into them than the LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley) and Wessex stations, this being because Network Rail is funding for the new systems at these stations.

This will include brand new speakers, new next train indicators, and also instead of departures screens, they are due to have LED boards, just like at busy london terminals.

It is good to see that its not just the Ex Wessex and Thames stations are getting a referb, as much as they do need it, so do the HSS stations where the next train indicator covers are starting to rust, i'd imagine this will include re-wiring of the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System), so to bring all stations upto the same type of fitting, and not have there being a difference at HSS stations because of the fact they had everything already.

[devon_metro]

Can we have a south facing departure screen at the south end of Newton Abbot please?

Countless times have I sat at the benches at the far end with no idea of the progress of my train!

[Btline]

Why don't they just install Ditra a la SN and SWT^▸ (South West Trains)? It works, and minimises noise pollution. _{(and it uses Phil...  )}

And D/M, the people who put in the PIS^▸ (Passenger Information System) screens never use their brain - the amount of poorly positioned screens I've seen, where a 10 sec look around by me finds a much better site...

[Louis94]

Why don't they just install Ditra a la SN and SWT^▸ (South West Trains)? It works, and minimises noise pollution. _{(and it uses Phil...  )}

And D/M, the people who put in the PIS^▸ (Passenger Information System) screens never use their brain - the amount of poorly positioned screens I've seen, where a 10 sec look around by me finds a much better site...

we'll have to wait and see! Too many people are saying too many different things regarding the voices of the PA^▸ (Public Address).

I'd imagine it is gonna be Ditra for the PA system, seeing as FGW^▸ (First Great Western) do currently use it at their HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) stations!

Will be passing through Teignmouth tomorrow, so will see if the new system has been fitted there yet, as it is due within the last and next few weeks.

Can we have a south facing departure screen at the south end of Newton Abbot please?

Countless times have I sat at the benches at the far end with no idea of the progress of my train!

We need some east facing departure screens at Plymouth aswell!

The only platform to have east facing departure screens is Platform 7, and i dont see why it cant be on the others aswell, is such a pain in the bum!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm.

We used to have an east facing screen on platform 2 at Nailsea & Backwell - and, as the platform is raised above the surrounding land, and the sun shines directly from the east in the early morning - nobody could read a word on it!

CfN. 

[Louis94]

Hmm.

We used to have an east facing screen on platform 2 at Nailsea & Backwell - and, as the platform is raised above the surrounding land, and the sun shines directly from the east in the early morning - nobody could read a word on it!

CfN. 

Is it any surprise? it is Wessex who installed it, and they chose the bad idea of installing screens instead of next train indicators like Thames Trains did.

Also Chris just to let you know, Nailsea and Backwell is due the full CIS^▸ (Customer Information System), including Next train indicators, departure screens and announcements, so should see a vast improvement in customer information!

and also you know the pictures you uploaded showing the new help point posts, and the information monitor not working, do the current announcements come out of the red speaker thing above the monitor? As i know at Liskeard announcements also come out of a speaker thing like that.

[Louis94]

Has anybody or persons on the forum got any updates on how the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) upgrade is going?

- Any stations with the new help points fitted,etc


Thanks

Louis 

[Chris from Nailsea]

You could catch a train to Melksham, to see a rather historic development there: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=7597.0

CfN. 

[Louis94]

You could catch a train to Melksham, to see a rather historic development there: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=7597.0

CfN. 

Sounds like fun! Just gotta hope the trains are not cancelled, or i could be stuck there overnight!

[Chris from Nailsea]

As to Nailsea & Backwell: the old Wessex CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) were still blank yesterday - and there were no announcements from the red public address speakers, either.

The white pillars for our new information points are still in their cellophane wrappings.

There was no sign of our 'station staff' member at Nailsea yesterday (when he was apparently due back).

And our two TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) are ... out of action - see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=7609.0

Does that help with your question, Louis94? 

[Louis94]

As to Nailsea & Backwell: the old Wessex CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) were still blank yesterday - and there were no announcements from the red public address speakers, either.

The white pillars for our new information points are still in their cellophane wrappings.

There was no sign of our 'station staff' member at Nailsea yesterday (when he was apparently due back).

And our two TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) are ... out of action - see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=7609.0

Does that help with your question, Louis94? 

You dont seem to have much luck with your system at Nailsea! (and i thought the systems at certain ex-wessex stations down here was bad!)

The installation of the help points does seem to have grinded to a halt at certain stations, but then again not at others (Melksham ) The new full CIS was ment to of started being put in at stations already, and i dont think even 1 station has had it fitted! (open for correction)

And as for the state of your ticket machines, they really need to put a sign up saying "this machine contains no cash", would save FGW^▸ (First Great Western) a lot of bother, hassle and money!

Thanks Chris! 

Louis