New voice CIS on SWT

[Thisisajm]

I noticed at Soton Parkway the other day and this morning going through Eastleigh that the station announcements have changed.

Sounds like Celia D but re-recorded and with a different chime.

Are SWT rolling out a new version of the system?

Apologies if this is already being discussed.

 

[greaterwest]

Sounds like the new system has finally been switched on. This was at Eastleigh back in December but was briefly changed back to the old Phil/Celia system.

I heard the new chime the other day when the system was under test at another station, and heard the engineers testing the manual announcements.

Just to clarify, it does appear to be Celia but re-recorded.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Just to clarify, it does appear to be Celia but re-recorded.

Is she the posh-sounding one that seems very much in keeping with the nicer parts of London etc served by SWT, rather than the disinterested-sounding "dystopian future computer woman" that seems now to be the standard, certainly at Network Rail stations? I hope so.

 

[greaterwest]

Is she the posh-sounding one that seems very much in keeping with the nicer parts of London etc served by SWT, rather than the disinterested-sounding "dystopian future computer woman" that seems now to be the standard, certainly at Network Rail stations? I hope so.

Celia is the one who was always on SWT (on-board trains and at stations), also at Birmingham New Street accompanying Phil Sayer many years ago. I believe Chiltern and Northern use Celia too.

The woman you are referring to is known as "Anne" and I'm very glad she hasn't made her way to the SWT network.

 

[Thisisajm]

Still sounds like old system at Basingstoke. At least on platform 4.

 

[swt_passenger]

Still sounds like old system at Basingstoke. At least on platform 4.

Presumably separate male/female voices for the different announcement groups will still be used at a station such as Basingstoke, Woking, Southampton Central etc. SO unfortunately there may feb a different male voice?

 

[swt class 450]

Does anyone have any videos or recordings of the new announcements? What are the main differences? Have the announcements had the wording changed as well?

 

[greaterwest]

Does anyone have any videos or recordings of the new announcements? What are the main differences? Have the announcements had the wording changed as well?

Same wording and voice artist, but entirely new recordings. If louis97 spots this thread I'm sure he'll post his recordings that were otherwise posted privately in the automated announcements section.

 

[swt class 450]

Same wording, but different voice. If louis97 spots this thread I'm sure he'll post his recordings that were otherwise posted privately in the automated announcements section.

So is there an private automated announcement section on this forum? Also do you know are Eastleigh and Southampton Airport Parkway the only stations that have been changed so far?

 

[greaterwest]

So is there an private automated announcement section on this forum? Also do you know are Eastleigh and Southampton Airport Parkway the only stations that have been changed so far?

There is, you can apply to be part of it through your user settings I believe.

Eastleigh was the only one I was aware of that had it live, but various others have had the system installed and tested (while retaining the old system for now)

I wasn't aware Southampton Airport Parkway had the new one until now.

 

[louis97]

Clips attached.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Crikey, that bing bong is straight out of either about 1985 or a cheap doorbell!

 

[southern442]

Same wording, but different voice. If louis97 spots this thread I'm sure he'll post his recordings that were otherwise posted privately in the automated announcements section.

It's the same voice. Absolutely no idea why these new announcements exist because it's the same lady re-recording every phrase, except maybe they told her to be less posh this time.

 

[Thisisajm]

I wasn't aware Southampton Airport Parkway had the new one until now.

It caught me off guard as I don't use Parkway very much, in fact never, as I live in Hedge End.
I was coming back from Winchester but couldn't be bothered to wait for the next train to PMH.

 

[Thisisajm]

It's the same voice. Absolutely no idea why these new announcements exist because it's the same lady re-recording every phrase, except maybe they told her to be less posh this time.

Possible they've moved to this which evolved from Ditra.

I agree, good that it's not Atos e.g GWR.

 

[Thisisajm]

What is in use on Platform 1 at Eastleigh at the moment?

 

[greaterwest]

Possible they've moved to this which evolved from Ditra.

That's what Northern use.

I believe the SWT system is now provided by Amey, as that's who SWT fault their current Ditra system through.

Amey also make the Southern system seen at Victoria, Croydon and Gatwick.

 

[greaterwest]

It's the same voice. Absolutely no idea why these new announcements exist because it's the same lady re-recording every phrase, except maybe they told her to be less posh this time.

Yeah my bad, bad wording. It's still Celia but she has had everything re-recorded.

 

[southern442]

Yeah my bad, bad wording. It's still Celia but she has had everything re-recorded.

I actually can't think of one reason why they should completely re-record everything.

 

[greaterwest]

I actually can't think of one reason why they should completely re-record everything.

It might be because the original recordings are nearly 20 years old, and new ones would sound out of place e.g. in a calling pattern (have you heard the new Heart of Wessex announcements for the London - Yeovil Pen Mill via Frome services? They had Phil and Celia re-record those and they sound a little out of place)

 

[southern442]

It might be because the original recordings are nearly 20 years old, and new ones would sound out of place e.g. in a calling pattern (have you heard the new Heart of Wessex announcements for the London - Yeovil Pen Mill via Frome services? They had Phil and Celia re-record those and they sound a little out of place)

Potentially, although that can't have been their main concern judging by the poor quality of the new ones. I noticed Phil's recording of 'Coulsdon Town' is also quite out of place.

 

[Thisisajm]

If it's a change of system the copyright would be the likely concern.

 

[greaterwest]

If it's a change of system the copyright would be the likely concern.

Also a good reason, as Celia also has different on-board ones to her station ones.

 

[swt class 450]

There is, you can apply to be part of it through your user settings I believe.

Eastleigh was the only one I was aware of that had it live, but various others have had the system installed and tested (while retaining the old system for now)

I wasn't aware Southampton Airport Parkway had the new one until now.

Thanks for the info. I have just applied to join it in my user settings. I presume this - http://automatedannouncements.wikia.com/wiki/Automated_Announcements_Wiki - is the automated announcements section you are referring to?

Clips attached.

Thanks for attaching these. These new Celia Drummond announcements sound very similar to her new LU Northern Line announcements (which i believe also got changed and re recorded in 2016). Is it likely that SWT will also change their on board announcements and get Celia Drummond to re record them?

 

[TEW]

You'd thought they wouldn't change the on board ones with the end of the franchise so near. But you would also have thought they wouldn't have changed the station ones either at this time.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Seems slower and clearer.

 

[pompeyfan]

I've mainly heard them in the Southampton area, at first i thought there was a genuine fault with it because of how slow the pronunciation is, god help the rest of the network!

Talking about sounding out of place, one would assume Micheldever has been rerecorded at some point as sounds out of place.

 

[greaterwest]

I've mainly heard them in the Southampton area, at first i thought there was a genuine fault with it because of how slow the pronunciation is, god help the rest of the network!

Talking about sounding out of place, one would assume Micheldever has been rerecorded at some point as sounds out of place.

Micheldever was originally "Michel-deever" and was re-recorded later, yes.

 

[swt class 450]

Micheldever was originally "Michel-deever" and was re-recorded later, yes.

Nobody seems to know how Micheldever is pronounced! I regularly hear both MITCHELL-DEAVER (to rhyme with "beaver") and MITCHELL-DEVER (to rhyme with "never")!

 

[abn444]

That's what Northern use.

I believe the SWT system is now provided by Amey, as that's who SWT fault their current Ditra system through.

Amey also make the Southern system seen at Victoria, Croydon and Gatwick.

If that is the case then why did they get Celia to re-record the announcements and not get "Amey woman" to do them instead? I personally think that "Amey woman" sounds better than these new re-recorded Celia announcements although I agree that I think both are better than the "Anne" announcements.

You'd thought they wouldn't change the on board ones with the end of the franchise so near. But you would also have thought they wouldn't have changed the station ones either at this time.

Could they (Stagecoach) know something we don't?