Atomic Systems

at York I can hardly understand what they're saying though sometimes!

What about unstaffed stations when you get announcements when a train is delayed or cancelled am I right saying there put out from the nearest power box or from the nearest staffed stations like at South Wigston and Syston they have Speakers to do announcements but only used when there is a delay or canceled train

And yes live announcements are best you can always add more on to it if needed a automatic pre recorded one can't have any extra added on to it and if a train is late you might not know unless there is a recorded one for late trains

johncas wrote:if a train is late you might not know unless there is a recorded one for late trains

You can read can't you

Mind you got a bit annoying hearing the automated (not pre-recorded) announcements this evening - the delayed 17:32 followed by the delayed 17:59 followed by the delayed 17:49 followed by the delayed 18:02 - one after the other with no pauses between them.

The lateness ones a sheffield are pre-recorded:

"We're sorry that the <slight pause> (time) <slight pause> (operator) <slight pause> service to <slight pause> (destination) <slight pause> is delayed by approximately <slight pause> xxxx minutes. On behalf of <slight pause> (operator) <slight pause> we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Glenn

I was at paddington earlier this week and the anouncements are live there, but you can hardly hear what is being said as there is too much echo.

Glenn

Pre-recorded announcements have the benifit of there doesn't need to be somebody there to activate them. They can run automatically without any hassle. However, you have the age old problem of garbage in, garbage out. If the wrong information is put in, bits could be missed out. Some systems limit what can be add too. I have also found that people will automatically ignore automated announcements. Manual handling is in my opinion a much more personal way of doing things, like for example - "I appologise for the delay to this journey and the inconvienience it will cause you" sounds much more sincere from a human than a machine.

Again, pre-records can become annoying and repetative for example when they start repeating train delay info every couple of minutes - the "Please listen for further information" seems completely pointless when no information is being given!

One of the other problems with station announcements of course is their surroundings, which I am sure those of you who are aware of the stations of Victoria, Waterloo, Paddington etc where Paddington is one that I feel may benifit from auto announcements. The flip side is that the one guy who does alot of the Bristol Temple Meads "Personal" announcements is extreamly good and can be heard and understood throughout the station.

Depending on the announcer, they do have there good side but we do have to remember that there will always be faults and downsides to anything automated!

I think waterloo already uses recorded announcements. It is audible though as it is fairly loud. Kings Cross has recently gone to pre-recorded ones as well, using the same voice as the one at sheffield. Although when they put you in the queues at the end of the platforms it is someone live. I also noticed that the ones at Doncaster were live, and very clear (providing you're OK with yorkshire accents )

Glenn

I have both types at my station - only problem is the fact that they don't seem to be audible anywhere else apart from the platforms so standing in the street or buying your ticket, you won't hear them.

I do try and make "live" announcements and will do with regards to people not reading the CIS screens and waiting on the wrong platform - must be something in the local water where they like to wait on cold railway platforms.