Northern re-records 34 station name announcements with local pronunciation

[northwichcat]

Cuddington has an additional message saying "Please do not attempt to use the foot crossing until the train has left the station" which I don't think is Peter on the trains I've been on.

 

[urbophile]

Certainly in legislation and proscriptive policy it very definitely is still in use.

It's too complicated and subtle for most normal English speakers. But I understand 'shall' after a first person subject (I or we) is the 'correct' form for the future tense which otherwise is 'will'. ('We shall be calling at x,y and z'). 'Shall' after a third person subject is prescriptive ('The passenger shall provide his [sic] ticket for inspection on request')

 

[AM9]

“Shall” is deemed an archaic/antiquated term and is no longer considered part of contemporary English.

Nearly 10 weeks later and still no clarification how and by whom the word 'shall' has been described as 'archaic and antiquated'. Maybe as @urbophile says, it's a bit too complicated and subtle for some posters here.

 

[507020]

So now we have 10 different voices being used onboard Northern trains:

With some being better than others. The question is at this point with this level of inconsistency, why do Northern not use a professional voice artist and are they the only operator not to use a professional voice artist?

It’s understandable that Arriva’s previous arrangements created this mess and could not continue under DOHL, who overall are doing a much better job of running the service, but the announcements are one aspect where the quality has noticeably degraded recently and continues to as they become more fragmented.

Peter Corley - The new main voice. Now used on most of the trains.

Who is a Northern conductor at York, but not a professional voice artist. Noticeably, the further the stations he is announcing get from York, they degrade in quality.

Laura Palmer - The new safety voice. Rolled out recently. But now they appear to be getting rid of her for some unknown reason. She is still on a few units but not many.

Of course it is good for a woman to be working in cybersecurity, but she is not a professional voice artist and has the single least northern accent I have ever heard. For this reason, her voice is not really suitable or appropriate for use.

The worst thing about her announcements is, why do so many now start with her saying “Welcome aboard this Northern service to” and then continue with Peter Corley stating the destination and making all further announcements, including the safety “see it say it sort it” which she was supposed to make?

Geordie accent

More of these please

Corona Virus announcements voice. This is a very well spoken male RP voice used for the Corona Virus announcements. He just does announcements about social distancing and was introduced when Corona Virus started. I thought he was long gone but his Corona Virus announcements were still playing on one unit i was on last month. So at least one train still has him.

“For the protection of everyone, you must wear a face covering on board trains and at stations unless you are exempt” I did particularly like this one at the time. The announcements were very clearly worded and spoken, unlike the new ones. Presumably he is a professional voice artist who was hired to make the serious announcement.

Trisha Jarman - The old main voice of the trains. She is currently being replaced but a few units still have her.

• Seb - The old safety voice of the trains. He is currently being replaced but a few units still have him.

Just professional voice artists with northern accents. The copyright arrangements of Arriva’s recordings wasn’t sustainable, so why couldn’t they be replaced with new recordings of equal quality? LNER and TPE haven’t done the same approach and rerecorded announcements using other staff members.

Dan Strauss - The voice of the Class 333 units. He was meant to be replaced over a year ago but the rollout of TrainFX seems to be delayed. Hopefully it continues to be delayed as he has a brilliant voice.

Welcome to the Leeds train. He may actually have made the clearest announcements on the Northern fleet, so of course they’re desperate to replace him…

 

[northwichcat]

Who is a Northern conductor at York, but not a professional voice artist. Noticeably, the further the stations he is announcing get from York, they degrade in quality.

He also worked on an army radio station which probably explains why Northern chose him ahead of other staff, and why he sounds more like an adult addressing teenagers than an employee talking to customers.

Of course it is good for a woman to be working in cybersecurity, but she is not a professional voice artist and has the single least northern accent I have ever heard.

She works in the north, but is originally from the south.

The worst thing about her announcements is, why do so many now start with her saying “Welcome aboard this Northern service to” and then continue with Peter Corley stating the destination and making all further announcements, including the safety “see it say it sort it” which she was supposed to make?

I thought they replaced that bit at the latest update, after they re-recorded Peter saying to rather than t'

Of course it is good for a woman to be working in cybersecurity

It's off topic but the demographic of people working in cybersecurity is different to IT and tech roles generally. It's not generally people who have started in IT, but people who fancy career changes. I've looked at that option before and on one occasion I was interviewed by an all female panel of 4 for a trainee role. I understand there are a lot of people who have police desk jobs or army support roles who move in the cybersecurity.

 

[HUY2ROB]

Roby should be "Robee" not "Robuh"

 

[WF4HA5HE]

The one that always gets me is Barnsley, at first it sounded like he tried to record it as if he had a Barnsley accent. They have not changed it but I think all they have done is speed it up so it now says it at what sounds like 2x speed.

 

[skyhigh]

• Unknown Male 2 - This is a new male voice used for the "thank you for travelling with Northern" recording. This has starting being rolled out very recently. I have no idea why they have gotten a new man to record this instead of getting Peter Corley to do it. Most likely a staff member.

It's a member of control staff, who also does various ad-hoc announcements at stations for disruption.

Unknown Male 5 - Corona Virus announcements voice. This is a very well spoken male RP voice used for the Corona Virus announcements. He just does announcements about social distancing and was introduced when Corona Virus started. I thought he was long gone but his Corona Virus announcements were still playing on one unit i was on last month. So at least one train still has him.

That was someone who worked in training but has since retired.

He may actually have made the clearest announcements on the Northern fleet, so of course they’re desperate to replace him…

Given they're the last to go, I don't think it shows a desperation... Simply the 333 system is end-of-life and it makes sense to standardised the fleet with the rest. The 333 announcements aren't held anywhere accessible and don't even have the full range of stations the units serve. I have a feeling there was some kind of contractual issue, as when Kirkstall and Apperley opened a full set of new recordings was done with a new voice artist, but due to technical limitations never used.

When it comes to the CAF PIS, there is a major update planned for the next few months which should tidy things up and remove the issue where some units drop back to older software versions.

 

[Killingworth]

It's a member of control staff, who also does various ad-hoc announcements at stations for disruption.

That was someone who worked in training but has since retired.

Given they're the last to go, I don't think it shows a desperation... Simply the 333 system is end-of-life and it makes sense to standardised the fleet with the rest. The 333 announcements aren't held anywhere accessible and don't even have the full range of stations the units serve. I have a feeling there was some kind of contractual issue, as when Kirkstall and Apperley opened a full set of new recordings was done with a new voice artist, but due to technical limitations never used.

When it comes to the CAF PIS, there is a major update planned for the next few months which should tidy things up and remove the issue where some units drop back to older software versions.

I don't know who's voice it was but since Dore & Totley got a 6 car platform last month we seem to be being warned that it has a short platform! Suitable for most other 4 car stations on the Hope Valley line when operating 6 car trains at weekends but not on a 3 car 195 anywhere today.

 

[Plethora]

Late to this party, but I really miss the announcements when the Kirkby branch was extended to HBL.

(Standard female announcer)
This is the Northern service to...

(Male announcer who sounds like he's recorded via a tin can)
... 'EDBOL' LAIN

Always made me and my wife chuckle. I had it as my personal lore that they pulled in a random guy out of the depot to record it.

 

[WestCoast]

There were people on my Man Airport - Blackpool North service last week laughing out loud at this guy, sounded to me like a Yorkshire guy having a go at a Lancashire pronunciation of Bolton and Chorley.

I find the best announcer in the north by far is the chap that does the Blackpool trams (and buses). I believe he’s a local radio presenter and would be an excellent choice for Northern I think. Also far better than the lady on the Metrolink too!

 

[Harvey B]

Dan Strauss. I have no idea why everyone on here thinks it's someone else!

Just out of Curiosity, How did you find out that the voice of the 333's was Dan Strauss?

 

[RailWonderer]

Dan Strauss or a sound-alike should be on all Northern trains and be done with this. He was one of the best on board voices. Janine Cooper Marshall gets an honourable mention. For Northern accents Neil Rudd wins for me.

There were people on my Man Airport - Blackpool North service last week laughing out loud at this guy, sounded to me like a Yorkshire guy having a go at a Lancashire pronunciation of Bolton and Chorley.

I find the best announcer in the north by far is the chap that does the Blackpool trams (and buses). I believe he’s a local radio presenter and would be an excellent choice for Northern I think. Also far better than the lady on the Metrolink too!

This is why a general Northern (if that exists) should be chosen or somebody who doesn’t put on an accent. You need an authentic sounding voice.

 

[Harvey B]

This is why a general Northern (if that exists) should be chosen or somebody who doesn’t put on an accent. You need an authentic sounding voice.

Isn't that why they replaced Trisha Jarman with Peter Corley?

Given they're the last to go, I don't think it shows a desperation... Simply the 333 system is end-of-life and it makes sense to standardised the fleet with the rest. The 333 announcements aren't held anywhere accessible and don't even have the full range of stations the units serve. I have a feeling there was some kind of contractual issue, as when Kirkstall and Apperley opened a full set of new recordings was done with a new voice artist, but due to technical limitations never used.

I do hope that the Siemens system on the 333s stays around long enough so we can hear Dan's "Doncaster Train" announcements in full. It'd be a shame to see all 16 have TrainFX before they start regular service on the Doncaster line

 

[Sebrh11]

Just out of Curiosity, How did you find out that the voice of the 333's was Dan Strauss?

He caught on it was him early on. Everyone thought it was Martin Oldfield until Dan Strauss comfirmed it was him in an email.

 

[Parallel]

Isn't that why they replaced Trisha Jarman with Peter Corley?

I always found Trisha to have the more generic northern voice over Peter. I think she is based in Hindley near Wigan. I’d imagine it was more down to cost savings with a lot of new stations opening. Northern can get Peter to record them for free (obviously there would be studio and other costs)

Peter’s inflections seem to be all over the place too on the Train FX stock, and he puts most of the emphasis on ‘BRIDGE’ for any station with Bridge in the name.

I think the recordings are very poor, and sound even worse when they’ve replaced a much better product previously.

 

[Killingworth]

Digressing to platform announcements I noticed this morning that Hope Valley trains are announced as going to Hope, Durbyshire not Darbyshire.

 

[Sebrh11]

I always found Trisha to have the more generic northern voice over Peter. I think she is based in Hindley near Wigan. I’d imagine it was more down to cost savings with a lot of new stations opening. Northern can get Peter to record them for free (obviously there would be studio and other costs)

Peter’s inflections seem to be all over the place too on the Train FX stock, and he puts most of the emphasis on ‘BRIDGE’ for any station with Bridge in the name.

I think the recordings are very poor, and sound even worse when they’ve replaced a much better product previously.

He is very poor. I have attached a recording of him saying "Hartlepool" (which he says wrong). This is annoying as Trisha and Seb were perfect so they had no reason to replace it. Northerns slogan should be "If its good, get rid of it".

 

[YorksLad12]

It's just as well there's no payment by use. On the approach to Wakefield Kirkgate on the semi-fast from Leeds, you get four "This is... Wakefield Kirkgate!" announcements before you're anywhere near slowing down, then a fifth when you reach the platform.

 

[Sebrh11]

I do hope that the Siemens system on the 333s stays around long enough so we can hear Dan's "Doncaster Train" announcements in full.

I do have a "Welcome to the Doncaster train" recording

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Trisha and Seb were perfect so they had no reason to replace it. Northerns slogan should be "If its good, get rid of it".

 

[Sebrh11]

Was on a trisha unit the other day actually (156465 I think) With trisha and seb (my name actually is seb lol)

 

[DBBR193303]

At least i wont have to hear that woman again

 

[H&I]

Why do the announcements say “station stop”? Is that not redundant?

 

[Wolfie]

Why do the announcements say “station stop”? Is that not redundant?

I'd often wondered that. I sort of assume that it is to differentiate through stations from termini.

 

[CW2]

I think "station stop" is grammatically ugly, but technically correct. It's to differentiate "next station on the route" from "next station at which we are scheduled to stop". So if you hear "The next station stop will be Wilmslow", you won't be alarmed at passing through Alderley Edge at line speed, for example.

 

[iknowyeah]

He is very poor. I have attached a recording of him saying "Hartlepool" (which he says wrong). This is annoying as Trisha and Seb were perfect so they had no reason to replace it. Northerns slogan should be "If its good, get rid of it".

Listened to this a couple of times and can't work out what he says wrong, however I'm from the wrong side of the hills so maybe I've been saying it wrong forever. I did notice he still says Handforth the way I said it when I worked there 15 years ago (Hand-futh) and was told off by the locals who insisted it is Hand-forth

 

[Harvey B]

I do have a "Welcome to the Doncaster train" recording

Oh thats good. Do you have a video of it? And can you send it to me?

 

[Sheridan]

I think "station stop" is grammatically ugly, but technically correct. It's to differentiate "next station on the route" from "next station at which we are scheduled to stop". So if you hear "The next station stop will be Wilmslow", you won't be alarmed at passing through Alderley Edge at line speed, for example.

And also to differentiate between stopping at a signal or for some other reason, and stopping at a station.

Although I’m sure there are places (Deansgate heading towards Oxford Rd comes to mind, but I imagine there will be lots) where trains not booked to call are stopped by a red signal so it might appear to passengers that it is in fact a ‘station stop’. I wonder how it would have to be worded to avoid that scenario?!

 

[stan claire]

Does anyone actually have the original recording for EBA before it was redone? Another thing, I can't be the only one who thinks the short platform announcement is so low quality that he literally sounds underwater?

Celia does have a correct pronunciation of Sandbach which was in use at Wilmslow until recently but they seem to have swapped it back to the old recording. Sharing below as this is not a Worldline system.

Reminds me of Westhoughton, which until recently at Bolton was rerecorded and pronounced correctly but last time I heard it pronounced as "Westhowton" but has always been incorrect at Victoria. Also when my train one time was delayed, there was a funny pronunciation where Celia said "this service is between Bolton and wEsThOuGhToNnNNNNn"

• Trisha Jarman - The old main voice of the trains. She is currently being replaced but a few units still have her.

Does anyone know these remaining units or will they all be gone by now?

When it comes to the CAF PIS, there is a major update planned for the next few months which should tidy things up and remove the issue where some units drop back to older software versions.

Hopefully they can revert themselves one last time before this is added, I loved Trisha's announcements on the Windermere branch and the way she actually pronounced Buckshaw Parkway properly. There was also a weird interim between Trisha + Seb and Pete + Laura where Trisha would announce "mind the gap" when approaching stations as well as when Pete was first introduced with the announcements on my train saying "Welcome aboard this Northern service to Manchester AIRRRRport , the next station stop is CHORLI"

There were people on my Man Airport - Blackpool North service last week laughing out loud at this guy, sounded to me like a Yorkshire guy having a go at a Lancashire pronunciation of Bolton and Chorley.

The pronunciation of BSV is absolutely baffling too in the sense he sounds so angry about being in Buckshaw (to be fair, I hate it there too) as in he literally says it as "Bukshorrr PAAAAAARK weiy" as well as the random dramatic pause when announcing Staveley

This is annoying as Trisha and Seb were perfect so they had no reason to replace it. Northerns slogan should be "If its good, get rid of it".

Just like when they got rid of the Preston to Victoria stopping service and replacing it with an Airport service that doesn't even stop at half the stations the old one used to

It's just as well there's no payment by use. On the approach to Wakefield Kirkgate on the semi-fast from Leeds, you get four "This is... Wakefield Kirkgate!" announcements before you're anywhere near slowing down, then a fifth when you reach the platform.

I think you mean Wakefield Kirgate??