Why do the Piccadilly Line announcements start late?

[joshcoupe]

Hi, wondering if anyone knows the answer as to why the Piccadilly Line on train announcements at stations start late - for example Heathrow Terminals 1,2 & 3 comes out Eathrow Terminal 1,2 & 3 - this is consistent the whole way along the line?

Any thoughts?


Josh

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

Faulty systems. Think I've rode one. Then again they're 1972..

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Hi, wondering if anyone knows the answer as to why the Piccadilly Line on train announcements at stations start late - for example Heathrow Terminals 1,2 & 3 comes out Eathrow Terminal 1,2 & 3 - this is consistent the whole way along the line?

Local accent?

 

[trentside]

Faulty systems. Think I've rode one. Then again they're 1972..

They're 1973 Stock, and according to recent figures have one of the highest mileages between failures of any stock in use on the Underground - by some margin.

The DVA system on the other hand, does have some quirks - I'm sure I've read that the system is supposed to determine the volume to play announcements based on the level of background noise, but doesn't always do so - this results in some cars having no announcements, while others play loudly.

 

[joshcoupe]

They're 1973 Stock, and according to recent figures have one of the highest mileages between failures of any stock in use on the Underground - by some margin.

The DVA system on the other hand, does have some quirks - I'm sure I've read that the system is supposed to determine the volume to play announcements based on the level of background noise, but doesn't always do so - this results in some cars having no announcements, while others play loudly.

That may explain it - there is more noise in some cars than other at the start of the announcement as people are getting on and off, after that the system returns to a generic level used between stations for example.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Something similar on the Bakerloo - the annoucements about standing clear of the doors always start AFTER the doors have closed!:roll:

 

[Dstock7080]

On 1972 and C Stock the "stand clear of the doors" announcements are driver activated, not auto-announced by the DVA.
Your example would probably be a person holding the doors somewhere on the train being given a 'reminder' with a button push!

 

[jon0844]

The Piccadilly trains seem to have an ambient noise sensor that sets the volume at the start, while on the C Stock, it can adjust as it speaks (but in quite noticeable volume steps).

It can certainly be very loud in both cases, but there's no reason to chop off the start of an announcement. The C Stock also has a manually triggered announcement to say that it is being held at a red signal, something drivers must say after a very short time indeed (10 seconds?).

Given how mainline railway drivers often say nothing when held, or certainly not for a long time, I do think 10 seconds is a little too short - but that's for another thread.

 

[Daniel]

I do think 10 seconds is a little too short - but that's for another thread.

Close, 30 seconds.

 

[jon0844]

Perhaps some drivers do the announcement earlier then, as I'm sure I've had the announcement much sooner after stopping, usually when I already knew we'd stand a good chance of catching up with the service ahead (i.e. I waited for the train that followed a minute behind).

 

[Dstock7080]

The C Stock also has a manually triggered announcement to say that it is being held at a red signal, something drivers must say after a very short time indeed (10 seconds?).

C Stock don't but D Stock do, instructions are NOT to use these now as the do not count towards CSS scores and passengers (supposedly) prefer a 'human' voice.

 

[tom1649]

Anyone remember when the 1973 stock DVA was a male voice and could only be activated by punching in codes manually?

"Let passengers off the train first please"
"Please move right down inside the car"
"Stand clear of the doors please"
"Please mind the gap between the train and the platform"

There were probably others but I only ever heard the above four. The fact that passengers were still referred to as passengers and not customers dates it a bit.

 

[trentside]

Anyone remember when the 1973 stock DVA was a male voice and could only be activated by punching in codes manually?

"Let passengers off the train first please"
"Please move right down inside the car"
"Stand clear of the doors please"
"Please mind the gap between the train and the platform"

There were probably others but I only ever heard the above four. The fact that passengers were still referred to as passengers and not customers dates it a bit.

I remember these. They were apparently voiced by a Piccadilly driver.

At the same time, I seem to remember that some stations had announcements giving the current station, the next station and the destination of the train.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

On 1972 and C Stock the "stand clear of the doors" announcements are driver activated, not auto-announced by the DVA.
Your example would probably be a person holding the doors somewhere on the train being given a 'reminder' with a button push!

Seems to happen at every station on every journey, though. Well, I guess that figures...

 

[tom1649]

Something similar on the Bakerloo - the annoucements about standing clear of the doors always start AFTER the doors have closed!:roll:

It used to happen when the Bakerloo had VERA too, at almost every station. Sometimes half way between stations!

 

[rmt-driver]

The Piccadilly trains seem to have an ambient noise sensor that sets the volume at the start, while on the C Stock, it can adjust as it speaks (but in quite noticeable volume steps).

It can certainly be very loud in both cases, but there's no reason to chop off the start of an announcement. The C Stock also has a manually triggered announcement to say that it is being held at a red signal, something drivers must say after a very short time indeed (10 seconds?).

Given how mainline railway drivers often say nothing when held, or certainly not for a long time, I do think 10 seconds is a little too short - but that's for another thread.

Thats why many don't bother. Punters don't want it. I think its only advice anyway to drivers, they can't "force" them to make any kind of silly non-safety-critical tannoy PAs... if they want them that much they will bring back guards

 

[Dstock7080]

Thats why many don't bother. Punters don't want it. I think its only advice anyway to drivers, they can't "force" them to make any kind of silly non-safety-critical tannoy PAs... if they want them that much they will bring back guards

If only that were true!
We are told to make an announcement within 30 seconds of the train stopping between stations or 90seconds if at a station, even if the exact cause is not known at that moment.
A further announcement must be made within 90seconds.

Monitoring does take place and drivers have had 'warning' letters for making announcements after 42, 50 seconds etc. If a warning has been issued further transgressions will result in more disciplinary action being taken.

 

[tom1649]

Monitoring does take place and drivers have had 'warning' letters for making announcements after 42, 50 seconds etc. If a warning has been issued further transgressions will result in more disciplinary action being taken.

Very harsh to count the number of seconds. It could be seen as being very petty on the management's part if they were to discipline a driver for being a few seconds out. It would be much better if management could trust their drivers to use some discretion. A bit of trust works both ways and placing such tight controls often doesn't help maintain a happy workplace. I'm sure drivers have enough safety critical work to think about without worrying about the timing of announcements etc.

 

[Dave A]

I've noticed that the 73ts DVA's are getting worse every time I travel on them (a good few times a week).

Might it be something to do with the last update/modification which introduced an annoying *bing* sound which comes on before every announcement?!

 

[317666]

Might it be something to do with the last update/modification which introduced an annoying *bing* sound which comes on before every announcement?!

As far as I know, that 'bing' noise is only on one unit as some sort of test. I've noticed that LU seem to care a bit more about the DVA working properly lately, I remember when hardly any C Stocks had working announcements and about half the '72 Stocks had broken DVA systems as well.