Are too loud and too many PRM alarms and announcements making travellers uptight.....

[physics34]

...subconsciously??

Reason i asked is ive just returned for a trip abroad and found my journey on a commuter train with minimal PA and quiet chimes to actually be relaxing and refreshing after a day out...noticeably.

With the wave of newer trains coming onboard and more and more PRM/TSI improvements made (yes, i am all for improvements for people of reduced mobility before you bite my head off), is it possible that the barrage of PA announcements and loud alarms on trains and stations is becoming more of a hinderance than a help?

Are companies going OTT , over and above the requirements which is causing possible annoyance to ALL travellers?

What do you think should be the maximum and minimum requirements?

Are there any blind or hard of hearing people on here with views?

DO we need "Door Opening chimes" at such a loud level and pitch, noticeable on class 700, 345 and some other modified stock?

Can the ontrain announcements be kept to a minimum with destination and next station information only. ..ie. "This is the xxx service to Epsom, the next to is CLapham Junction" and that is it.

Do non-stop station announcements cause a hindrance and are generally ignored by frequent travellers?

Obviously the answer is a happy medium. Do you think companies just bung in the equipment, think "that'll do"? DO they do research?

 

[Bertie the bus]

I don’t understand why the door release alarms are so much louder than the hustle alarms. Blind people are capable of hearing so why does it need to be so loud and intrusive?

As for your question about do they make travellers uptight the answer as far as I’m concerned is yes. I recently travelled on one of the fully upgraded Northern 319s and I’m quite good at zoning out but it was a very unpleasant journey. If that’s how all trains are going to be come 2020 I’ll just drive everywhere.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It'd do to remove all the waffle. Announcements about forgetting your bags are not necessary. The Goverment needs to pack in with the requirements for them.

All a regional train needs is what it gets in Switzerland, such as (made-up example):-

(once, while doors are open at intermediate stations, and maybe twice at termini)

"[bong] London Midland service to London Euston calling at [...]"

(once on departing a station)

"[bong] Next station Bletchley"

(on door release)

"[bong] Bletchley"

(on departure from stop before terminus)

"[bong] Next station London Euston where this train terminates. All passengers please leave the train at this station."

(on arrival at terminus)

"[bong] London Euston, terminus. All passengers please leave the train."

That would be entirely sufficient. The pleasantries are not needed.

I notice that London Buses did actually trim their announcements a bit - the original iBus trial on the 168 used to do "Route 168 to Hampstead Heath" and the "Route" was dropped as a completely spurious ear-worm.

The "bong" should be a nice relaxing sound, the Mk3 guitar strum would also work. Its purpose is to tune you into the announcement so you don't need "ladies and gentlemen" or any similar waffle[1].

As for the door opening alerts, they are a horrible noise. Some kind of pleasant "ding dong" type sound would be fine. I also think a different sound is needed for "doors closing on a timer" and "doors closing as we are departing".

[1] Has anyone noticed that the Class 700 for manual announcements has the Dutch 3-tone "bong" as found on NS and at Schiphol Airport? Wonder why it ended up with that?

 

[physics34]

I don’t understand why the door release alarms are so much louder than the hustle alarms. Blind people are capable of hearing so why does it need to be so loud and intrusive?

As for your question about do they make travellers uptight the answer as far as I’m concerned is yes. I recently travelled on one of the fully upgraded Northern 319s and I’m quite good at zoning out but it was a very unpleasant journey. If that’s how all trains are going to be come 2020 I’ll just drive everywhere.

the journey i had "abroad" from a major city was surprisingly relaxing and quiet, with just an announcement as the train was leaving the station and a quieter than we have hustle alarm.

 

[Lockwood]

I can often hear the door release chimes from Haslemere station from the youth campus off of Wey Hill. While this is still fairly near, you would not normally expect to hear something from that distance.

That said, I have heard Bedhampton's level crossing alarm from outside the rugby club in the past, with the wind going in just the right direction. Maybe the arc for the wind to blow in in Haslemere is just that little bit larger.

 

[Taunton]

Was on the Waterloo line. All disrupted, and there was a large crowd at Woking wanting to move westwards. The indicators were blank.

Suddenly the PA booms out, basso profundo, "May I have your attention, please". The crowd on the platforms suddenly go quiet to hear the news.

"Please keep your baggage with you at ALL times".

 

[Hadders]

I took a ride on a 323 to Hadfield earlier today. The only announcements were from the guard who simply announced each station as we pulled in:

'Guide Bridge'
'Flowery Field'
'Glossop' etc.

No other words whatsoever. Quite nice in a way.

I do think that sometimes we're over the top with announcements. I grabbed a quick sandwich at Piccadilly while I was waiting for a train and the announcements were non-stop - most of it wasn't about trains either (inclement weather, see it say it etc.) I know there's a balance to strike but sometimes we go too and the announcements simply become background noise.

 

[joncombe]

I agree. I now consider headphones, and something to plug them into a requirement when travelling by train. On the Swt 450s the announcements, especially if on a stopping service are almost non stop. I even heard one announce the position of the buffet - which 450s dont even have. On top of the automated announcements the guards now also make manual announcements to tell you where they are, too.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I took a ride on a 323 to Hadfield earlier today. The only announcements were from the guard who simply announced each station as we pulled in:

'Guide Bridge'
'Flowery Field'
'Glossop' etc.

No other words whatsoever. Quite nice in a way.

I do think that sometimes we're over the top with announcements. I grabbed a quick sandwich at Piccadilly while I was waiting for a train and the announcements were non-stop - most of it wasn't about trains either (inclement weather, see it say it etc.) I know there's a balance to strike but sometimes we go too and the announcements simply become background noise.

I must admit I prefer "silent terminal" airports than ones that have the AviaVox Dutch woman wibbling on, provided there are screens visible from any point in the terminal. Manc Picc was for a bit a silent station - it was bliss. Nothing was announced except serious out of course running.

We must be reaching the point that some kind of mobile device could be provided to blind people to allow them to hear personalised detail in the context of where they are rather than everyone else being subjected to the waffle.

 

[sd0733]

A random thought regarding the PRM mods after seeing a picture of the new sleepers but will those be required to have the loud door release and door closing alarms...may not be too popular in the berths near the doors if that's the case!!

 

[Thomas6187]

I grabbed a quick sandwich at Piccadilly while I was waiting for a train and the announcements were non-stop - most of it wasn't about trains either (inclement weather, see it say it etc.)

Piccadilly has recently had a multi million pound PA system upgrade, so the announcement are much more noticeable.

 

[EM2]

What are PRM and TSI?

 

[route:oxford]

What are PRM and TSI?

PRM - Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford

https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/

TSI - Turbo Stratfied Injection

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbo_fuel_stratified_injection

Or it might have something to do with the technical specification for interoperability for persons with reduced mobility (TSI-PRM)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/accessible-rail-transport/accessible-rail-transport

 

[A Challenge]

I must admit I prefer "silent terminal" airports than ones that have the AviaVox Dutch woman wibbling on, provided there are screens visible from any point in the terminal. Manc Picc was for a bit a silent station - it was bliss. Nothing was announced except serious out of course running.

We must be reaching the point that some kind of mobile device could be provided to blind people to allow them to hear personalised detail in the context of where they are rather than everyone else being subjected to the waffle.

I think that is a very good idea, although having some announcements is a good idea anyway.

 

[physics34]

Was on the Waterloo line. All disrupted, and there was a large crowd at Woking wanting to move westwards. The indicators were blank.

Suddenly the PA booms out, basso profundo, "May I have your attention, please". The crowd on the platforms suddenly go quiet to hear the news.

"Please keep your baggage with you at ALL times".

looool...so crap and unprofessional though. Similar thing at london victoria recently..everything was at a stand no platforms being shown on the indicators...all you heard was the security and left luggage announcements for about 20 mins

 

[physics34]

I agree. I now consider headphones, and something to plug them into a requirement when travelling by train. On the Swt 450s the announcements, especially if on a stopping service are almost non stop. I even heard one announce the position of the buffet - which 450s dont even have. On top of the automated announcements the guards now also make manual announcements to tell you where they are, too.

thing is we really shouldnt expect to where headphones. Its clear they are an annoyance

 

[physics34]

im just pretty sure, over the top announcements and alarms/chimes just irritate people.

 

[notlob.divad]

We see to have this topic come around more and more regularly. I agree that they get very annoying and from my most recent experience the northern 319s on stopping services has to be among the worst.

I only used to get the train a couple of times a week, and haven't lived in the UK for the last 5 months, yet it is burned into my memory.

"If you have boarded this service at a station with ticket buying facilities, in line with national rail conditions of carriage, we will only be able to sell you a full price ticket. You must purchase your ticket before you travel."

"We are now approaching .... If you are leaving the train here at ...... please remember to take all of your personal belongings and hand luggage with you, and mind the step between the train and the platform"

Every so often wouldn't be so bad, but the full waffle happens at every single station. I cannot imagine what it is like for people who commute daily on the service, with the stress and heat of a evening commute out of Liverpool with that bleeding your ears dry 15 times

 

[yorkie]

Many sounds are indeed far too loud.

As for "May I have your attention, please"; this precedes unimportant announcements. Regular commuters know to switch off listening at this point.

 

[class26]

I have never understood why on Virgin EC we have to have the guard welcome passengers after EVERY station followed again by the head steward in the buffet car give the same welcome.
Surely the guard, after his welcome can simply remind new passengers that the buffet is open? We do not need to be welcomed twice !

 

[physics34]

I have never understood why on Virgin EC we have to have the guard welcome passengers after EVERY station followed again by the head steward in the buffet car give the same welcome.
Surely the guard, after his welcome can simply remind new passengers that the buffet is open? We do not need to be welcomed twice !

indeed its overkill

 

[physics34]

Many sounds are indeed far too loud.

As for "May I have your attention, please"; this precedes unimportant announcements. Regular commuters know to switch off listening at this point.

it does seem regulars switch off...which may be a good thing for them, but i still reckon its an irritant subconsciously.

If i worked in a noisy office all day, i'd like a nice relaxing chilled out journey home.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Can guards override the automated audio announcements to disable some or all of them? Watched a clip on youtube the other day the PIS done an announcement, then the guard repeated a good chunk of the same information

 

[cf111]

ScotRail have the right balance, I don't find it intrusive.

Before the train departs:

"This is Thurso. This train is for Inverness. This train will call at Georgemas Junction, Scotscalder, Altnabreac... The next stop is Georgemas Junction; passenger safety information notices are located throughout this train."

Approach to station:
"We are now approaching Dingwall. Please mind the gap when alighting from this train."

Doors released:
"This is Dingwall. This train is for Wick. The next stop is Alness."

Terminating:
"We are now approaching Inverness, where this train terminates. Change here for services to Kyle of Lochalsh, Aberdeen, Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley."

And that's your lot unless the guard says his or her bit!

 

[Philip]

185s initially had a good PA system when they were new; clear, quick and to the point, useful and without waffle. She would announce the destination and the next stop, without going through the whole stopping pattern after leaving each station.

 

[CNash]

I've just had to endure two months of "Between Saturday the 26th of August and Saturday the 2nd of September, no trains will call at Charing Cross, Waterloo East or London Bridge and other services will be extremely busy..." - multiple times on the concourse or platform, every other stop on the trains themselves, belted out by hired orange jumpers on station concourses, leaflets thrust into my face every single day... and when it actually happened, it was incredibly easy to avoid congestion as most people just stayed at home!

At some point in the run-up to Thameslinkageddon they switched up the announcements for a jokey one, recorded to sound like it was being read out live, but once you'd heard it a few times it was just one more thing to ignore.

 

[GW43125]

I've just had to endure two months of "Between Saturday the 26th of August and Saturday the 2nd of September, no trains will call at Charing Cross, Waterloo East or London Bridge and other services will be extremely busy..." - multiple times on the concourse or platform, every other stop on the trains themselves, belted out by hired orange jumpers on station concourses, leaflets thrust into my face every single day... and when it actually happened, it was incredibly easy to avoid congestion as most people just stayed at home!

At some point in the run-up to Thameslinkageddon they switched up the announcements for a jokey one, recorded to sound like it was being read out live, but once you'd heard it a few times it was just one more thing to ignore.

Reminds me of the "May i have your attention please, this is an important announcement about train services in and out of London Waterloo on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th August, around 25% of our normal timetable will run and services will be extremely busy", which all the guards took great pleasure in telling us, on one occasion this warning came whilst we were on one of the aforementioned trains on the aforementioned Thursday...

 

[physics34]

ScotRail have the right balance, I don't find it intrusive.

Before the train departs:

"This is Thurso. This train is for Inverness. This train will call at Georgemas Junction, Scotscalder, Altnabreac... The next stop is Georgemas Junction; passenger safety information notices are located throughout this train."

Approach to station:
"We are now approaching Dingwall. Please mind the gap when alighting from this train."

Doors released:
"This is Dingwall. This train is for Wick. The next stop is Alness."

Terminating:
"We are now approaching Inverness, where this train terminates. Change here for services to Kyle of Lochalsh, Aberdeen, Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley."

And that's your lot unless the guard says his or her bit!

Would still find that too much at every stop.

 

[Starmill]

[1] Has anyone noticed that the Class 700 for manual announcements has the Dutch 3-tone "bong" as found on NS and at Schiphol Airport? Wonder why it ended up with that?

The 380s have it too - it only plays when the driver or guard makes an announcement though, not for the auto-announcer.

I think it sounds great.

 

[Taunton]

The porters at Taunton alongside arriving non-corridor locals had brevity down to a fine art.

"Tau'ton. All change !"