Even more announcements on SWR

[Deepgreen]

I guess you could argue that you don’t need ’located’, and only need ‘currently’ if you are planning on moving.
I am in the middle of the train (adding ‘at the moment’ if you want more chat).
I am currently in the middle and will be working my forward

You don't need any of it. On main line trains, how many times do people actually seek out the guard? The vast bulk of automated announcements are pointless and a significant proportion of the manual ones are too - especially the guard immediately repeating announcements just broadcast on the auto system, and so often inaudibly quietly - which just makes people then wonder what is being said and has something happened that they need to know about?! It's time the railway authorities recognised the futility of their passenger information regimes and made major changes.

 

[Goldfish62]

The Elizabeth Line used to be really good with stripped back but meaningful announcements:

This is the train to *station*
Next station, *station*
Next station, *station*
*Station*
This is the train to *station*

Now it's:

This is the Elizabeth Line service to *station*
The next station is *station*
We are now arriving at *station*
*Station*
This is the Elizabeth Line service to *station*

What does the second version fundamentally add to the first?

Yes, I much preferred the original announcements.

 

[Meerkat]

The Elizabeth Line used to be really good with stripped back but meaningful announcements:

This is the train to *station*
Next station, *station*
Next station, *station*
*Station*
This is the train to *station*

Now it's:

This is the Elizabeth Line service to *station*
The next station is *station*
We are now arriving at *station*
*Station*
This is the Elizabeth Line service to *station*

What does the second version fundamentally add to the first?

Only applies to one or two of those but AIUI it’s fairly normal to have filler words before the meat to give listeners chance to tune in.

 

[Deepgreen]

Essentially, the more these tedious and obvious announcements are made, the more people tend to blot them out - and then genuinely useful ones are so much more likely to be missed. Less is more.

 

[Phil R]

The one I love most, as a regular SWR customer, is the customer-friendly welcoming (NOT!) message threatening me with £100 penalties and prosecution almost as soon as I get on the train. My brain has almost entirely switched out the See it, Say it, Sorted message now having heard it almost 1000 times. Although the old cells do pick up the subtle regional variations in that message. Filed away for my planned history of noise pollution on public transport.

I confess I haven't yet heard the litter & shoes message.

Some of these messages are location-specific. Customers joining at Guildford get the fare-dodger message, whilst those of us here are not surprised the Woking lot absolutely deserve the antisocial behaviour message evey time they board a train...

 

[TheManBehind]

The question is, why are guards required to do that? Drivers on most DOO trains don't but the passengers cope. If the guard is required to make announcements, what purpose does the automatic system serve?

They're not required to make a full announcement of all calling points - when I was there you were specifically told "don't repeat anything the PIS says". They are, on many (if not all) operators, however, required to make some announcements under their Service Quality Regime, performance in which helps determine the fee paid to the operator.

The SQR frequently goes into detail on what needs to be announced too - e.g. if no trolley catering, must be announced, etc.

 

[Recessio]

Some of these messages are location-specific. Customers joining at Guildford get the fare-dodger message, whilst those of us here are not surprised the Woking lot absolutely deserve the antisocial behaviour message evey time they board a train...

Guildford probably deserves the fare dodger one due to the amount of bridge pass abuse there used to be, and nearby ungated stations allowing people into the network.

What it doesn't need is the guard to repeat said announcement nearly verbatim thirty seconds later...

 

[Broucek]

I have purchased a good noise cancelling headset so I hear nothing. A GWR service from Penzance to Cardiff with a list of all the stations on route at every stop in Cornwall was the final straw. Luckily I was only going six stops!!

Yeah, I do that too. The downside is I sometimes miss some new relevant info that I needed to know but that's rare as I usually check online sources for up-to-date info when travelling

 

[hermit]

Twice recently I’ve heard the ‘Oyster and contactless cards and Freedom Passes without a suitable extension are not valid on this service’ message on Island Line trains from Ryde. Glad that’s cleared up.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

But, by that logic, the “average” passenger isn’t partially sighted or blind. So we could dispense with announcements regarding which station is next?

I didn't say that, I said "reduce announcements to just things the average passenger needs to know (where the train's going and where it's stopping on the way) and get rid of the rest!" so yes, telling us which station is next is useful information. You're also assuming that blind or partially sighted passengers don't find unnecessary announcements annoying as well!

But if we're talking about those with physical or mental health issues, surely that's another argument for scrapping unnecessary announcements as they may cause stress and anxiety to people with ADHD, autism and the like?

 

[TheSel]

I have purchased a good noise cancelling headset so I hear nothing. A GWR service from Penzance to Cardiff with a list of all the stations on route at every stop in Cornwall was the final straw. Luckily I was only going six stops!!

How long before we have a new by-law?

'Passengers must not wear noise cancelling headsets, as these pose a safety risk in the event of your not hearing an important safety announcement.'

 

[renegademaster]

When the announcements are actually useful is when theirs some kind of change in the ticketing. Like the warning at redhill that oyster and contactless is no longer valid , which often leads to a few rushing off. I get warning about advances but unless it's a terminus it should be done after the announcement of a service that sells advances on the plafform , especially in areas where they aren't typical

 

[Sad Sprinter]

SWR was terrible during Covid, with their “we want everyone travelling with us to feel safe” announcements that played every stop or two.

I made a thread last year I think of the awful manual announcements that were being made by temporary station staff on platforms 5 and 6 at Clapham junction at the time. True monolouging and guilt tripping people not to stand near the edge.

If it makes everyone feel better, I’ve just come back from Los Angeles where the platform indicator boards on the subway frequently wipe out the next train information to display…the time. Very useful LA, now is this the Hollywood train or not?

How long before we have a new by-law?

'Passengers must not wear noise cancelling headsets, as these pose a safety risk in the event of your not hearing an important safety announcement.'

Don’t give them ideas!

 

[Discuss223]

Two new ones to add to the plethora of announcements that SWR seem to think we need to hear.
'Please keep your feet off the seats' and
'Please use the litter bins provided'.

How long will it be until we get one in the toilets saying,
'Please make sure you flush the toilet after use'.

I just want some peace and quiet when I board one of your trains SWR!

That does seem un-necessary.

Keeping feet off of seats is one that any person with an ounce of respect for their surroundings would know to do.

The people who put their feet on the seats know that they shouldn't do it but don't care.

These sort of announcements need to be trimmed off for the purpose of the on-board ambience.

It should be:-

*Operational - calling points & destination etc.
*Safety - Emergency exit diagrams and posters in case of emergency and safe stowage of luggage
*Customer service - pleasantries and catering information, wishing a good journey etc.
* Ticketing information - a small reminder regarding Advance tickets, Penalty Fares etc.

That's it.

I also agree with post that the Train Manager/Senior Conductor should not duplicate automated announcements.

It just adds annoyance to customers.


I worry that there will come a time when an emergency announcement is needed and it will be lost amongst all of the waffle regarding litter bins and British Transport Police slogans.

 

[farwest]

I caught the local bus from Helford passage to Falmouth today. Very sensible announcements, basically next stop and arriving at with the occasional route 35 to Falmouth.
None of the continually verbose crap like, this is a GWR service to Falmouth at every stop and start. The railways have really lost the plot.

 

[Meerkat]

The people who put their feet on the seats know that they shouldn't do it but don't care.

I really wouldn’t bet that they do know!
I reckon it’s the sort of thing that plenty of culprits do without thinking, or think it’s frowned upon but not actually banned. And then there are those who were indulged/ignored kids who have never been told not to do it.

 

[I_am_Nobody]

You know, I think the software on the Desiros has been updated. It has just automatically played a Priority Seating message I’ve never heard before. Guard definitely didn’t trigger it, as he was stood in my carriage when it happened, and he muttered something as he walked past about not needing new automatic announcements. Go you, Guard, I agree.

 

[Goldfish62]

You know, I think the software on the Desiros has been updated. It has just automatically played a Priority Seating message I’ve never heard before. Guard definitely didn’t trigger it, as he was stood in my carriage when it happened, and he muttered something as he walked past about not needing new automatic announcements. Go you, Guard, I agree.

You're probably right. At Richmond it now says change for the Mildmay line rather than London Overground.

 

[Craig1122]

2 new ones from SWR today:

A long waffley pre recorded one about the priority seats and a manual one on leaving zone 6 about the extension of contactless payment.

The 701's also play an announcement about reading safety notices on arrival at Waterloo. I've not seen anyone obey yet!

At Clapham Junction a couple of weeks ago station staff were announcing both Reading and Windsor trains as "all stations to...". Neither are as they skip various stops, and much like onboard the trains there's a perfectly good auto announcer.

 

[I_am_Nobody]

You're probably right. At Richmond it now says change for the Mildmay line rather than London Overground.

I noticed this too. Took their time… you can hear that they’ve dropped “contactless” from the announcement at Feltham too. Rather shoddy job of it they’ve done, though…

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

I was working a Guildford to Waterloo via Epsom service yesterday, and upon arrival at Effingham Junction, there was an announcement to "change here for Surbiton".

It would probably make sense going the other way, but surely if you're coming from the Guildford direction you'd just board the Surbiton train in the first place?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I was working a Guildford to Waterloo via Epsom service yesterday, and upon arrival at Effingham Junction, there was an announcement to "change here for Surbiton".

It would probably make sense going the other way, but surely if you're coming from the Guildford direction you'd just board the Surbiton train in the first place?

I suspect a lot of the "change for" announcements are triggered by the train being in a geographical location rather than by anyone actually programming them in a logical way - in this case it would make sense for someone travelling from, say, Leatherhead or Bookham?

There's quite a lot of "change for" announcements around the network which only make sense in one direction but which seem to get triggered in both directions.

 

[thejuggler]

I called someone today who was on a service from Manchester to Newcastle. They were just leaving Piccadilly and he rang off due to the constant announcements as I couldn't hear him. He called back and they started again about luggage and feet on seats, ticket checks. Then they were nearing Stalybridge and yet more announcements about luggage, tickets, letting people off.

In the end we decided to reschedule the call for tomorrow!

 

[Bigfoot]

You know, I think the software on the Desiros has been updated. It has just automatically played a Priority Seating message I’ve never heard before. Guard definitely didn’t trigger it, as he was stood in my carriage when it happened, and he muttered something as he walked past about not needing new automatic announcements. Go you, Guard, I agree.

Heard an announcement telling me how far the connection is in metres and what elevation changes there are between Farnborough and Farnborough North stations today. Plus priority seating too.

 

[Phil R]

I heard the priority seat one for the first time today. Seemed to be in isolation on its own after all the Woking wibble had finished. It doesn't half go on, and seems unnecessary, as again, it's only human decency to give up your seat to someone who needs it more. A bit like not inflicting your unwanted conversation on someone who doesn't need to hear it. Oh, hang on...

 

[rheingold103]

Re connecting service information -
On London-bound Greater Anglia trains approaching Shenfield there is an auto announcement 'change here for the Elizabeth line'. The unknowing bound for Central London alight with the prospect of 11 extra station stops before Stratford on an EL train. Pre-EL the useful announcement was 'change at Shenfield for intermediate stations to Stratford'.
Even more ridiculously the same announcement also plays in the Down (country bound) direction, perhaps for anyone doubling back.
A case of improving something worse!

 

[Harpo]

At Richmond it now says change for the Mildmay line rather than London Overground.

Wonder if anyone asks ‘Where’s Mildmay?’.

 

[Goldfish62]

Wonder if anyone asks ‘Where’s Mildmay?’.

If they ask that they'll also ask "Where's District".

 

[Bikeman78]

If they ask that they'll also ask "Where's District".

I disagree. I've known the names of all the Underground lines and roughly where they go since I was a kid. I couldn't tell you the names of any of the Overground routes.

 

[setdown]

The poster I quoted appeared to be suggesting that only “average” passengers should be catered for. I’m asking how that fits in with the oft stated desire to improve access for disabled people?



That very much confirms my suspicion. It’s interesting that this doesn’t seem to be an issue for non enthusiasts, nor indeed staff and traincrew, who are the people who hear announcements the most.



How do you know so precisely, unless you were literally timing the announcements, and measuring them with a decibel meter?

Have you considered that there may be some groups of travellers - irregular railway users, disabled travellers - who do benefit from the announcements?

Apple Watch gives you the local sound levels, and indeed warns you when they get too high. No need for any other equipment. Try it! It can be interesting. Two things set them off for me, loud hand dryers and SWR announcements