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

[adamello]

As it happens it's not typical British hysteria. There have been two very serious attempts to attack UK rail systems using IEDs within the last two years, one of which was found pre-initiation and the other of which only partially detonated, but that was down to incompetence rather than lack of will on the part of the perpetrator. If it had fully detonated there would have been multiple fatalities.

As I've said before See it, Say it, Sorted is an earworm; it's designed to get into your head so that if you do see something suspicious you'd be more likely to report it. If you want to ignore a still actively existing threat that's up to you.

It might be an ear worm - I can hear it immediately fully ingrained, from the "if you see somthing..." all well and good - job done right?

no - I couldn't tell you what the BTP text number is..

 

[Matt_pool]

It might be an ear worm - I can hear it immediately fully ingrained, from the "if you see somthing..." all well and good - job done right?

no - I couldn't tell you what the BTP text number is..

61016!

I only know because I was getting a London Northwestern train into Liverpool Lime Street the other day and as soon as the train entered Edge Hill tunnels an automated announcement started that seem to go on for ever. The usual stuff such as:

"We are now approaching Liverpool Lime Street where this train terminates. Please make sure you take all of your belongings with you. I've already mentioned it but I'll tell you again, we are approaching Liverpool Lime Street where this train terminates. If you see anything suspicious you can text the British Transport Police on 61016 and we'll sort it. See it, say it sort it, blah blah blah.....!"

The thing is, the train was running 10 minutes late and everyone just wanted to get off the train as soon as possible, not listen to stupid announcements!

 

[43096]

Some people might as well be, given their complete oblivion to what is going on around them.

So they wouldn’t notice some droning announcement, then. Should ditch the announcement!

 

[VioletEclipse]

I find that 61016 is not such an easy number to remember anyway

 

[anamyd]

I find that 61016 is not such an easy number to remember anyway

I guess they thought it would be because it's palindromic

 

[VioletEclipse]

I guess they thought it would be because it's palindromic

Literally hadn't noticed that until now, the problem is I think of it is 'six-ten-one-six' and keep getting the 1s and 6s mixed up.

 

[RichT54]

Literally hadn't noticed that until now, the problem is I think of it is 'six-ten-one-six' and keep getting the 1s and 6s mixed up.

I can remember it because it's 101 in the middle (which is the same as the police non-emergency number) with a 6 at each end.

 

[VioletEclipse]

I can remember it because it's 101 in the middle (which is the same as the police non-emergency number) with a 6 at each end.

That's a good way to remember it, I'll try it. Thanks

 

[xotGD]

I can remember it because it's 101 in the middle (which is the same as the police non-emergency number) with a 6 at each end.

I've had a 101 with a 37 on one end. Does that help?

 

[jfollows]

I was at Crewe last Friday, coincidentally got to see the new TPE Mark 5 test run terminating which was nice, but there was a vast amount of information in both the announcements and displayed. Most of the announcements were lengthy but relatively helpful, describing the length of the train and location of unreserved carriages. But I suspect the vast majority of people ignored most of the information, a large number in front of me scrambled when their train arrived because the closest carriages were First Class, yet the information was clearly and correctly displayed well in advance.
On the train to Edinburgh I suffered the "see it, say it, sorted" automated announcement many, many times and, no, I haven't any idea what the number is either. I simply can't remember these sorts of things, it's not the way my memory works. Others' mileage may vary. All I know is that I felt patronised and annoyed by the end of the journey.
My conclusion, though, is that too much information is provided through automated announcements, and that most people either don't understand it in the first place or tune it out.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I was at Crewe last Friday, coincidentally got to see the new TPE Mark 5 test run terminating which was nice, but there was a vast amount of information in both the announcements and displayed. Most of the announcements were lengthy but relatively helpful, describing the length of the train and location of unreserved carriages. But I suspect the vast majority of people ignored most of the information, a large number in front of me scrambled when their train arrived because the closest carriages were First Class, yet the information was clearly and correctly displayed well in advance.
On the train to Edinburgh I suffered the "see it, say it, sorted" automated announcement many, many times and. no, I haven't any idea what the number is either. I simply can't remember these sorts of things, it's not the way my memory works. Others' mileage may vary. All I know is that I felt patronised and annoyed by the end of the journey.
My conclusion, though, is that too much information is provided through automated announcements, and that most people either don't understand it in the first place or tune it out.

There's a certain LNER Guard with a stereotypical camp/posh accent who always seems to go over the top with the announcements. At times it feels like he's saying the "see it, say it, sorted" phrase every 5 minutes!

 

[anamyd]

There's a certain LNER Guard with a stereotypical camp/posh accent who always seems to go over the top with the announcements. At times it feels like he's saying the "see it, say it, sorted" phrase every 5 minutes!

"See it..." on a live announcement?! Or are they live only...?

 

[Jordan Adam]

"See it..." on a live announcement?! Or are they live only...?

I couldn't tell you if they're always live, however on the multiple times i've had this same guard he does them live every time.

 

[anamyd]

I couldn't tell you if they're always live, however on the multiple times i've had this same guard he does them live every time.

That must be not only annoying but awkward, as it's such an "automated" type script with the 3 Ss.

 

[nanstallon]

There might have been a minor terrorist incident on the London Underground last year (I'm guessing you mean Parsons Green) but there hasn't been a major terrorist attack on the National Rail network since...well, I can't actually find any record of one.

I can understand, given recent history, why London Transport might feel it necessary to warn passengers of suspicious items and behaviour but in other parts of the UK, such as the rural bit of Yorkshire where I commute, the chances of a terrorist attack are so miniscule as to be not worth mentioning. Hence up here the vast majority of us treat the constant "Security Services" warnings as they should be treated - with a combination of disinterest and contempt!

This is the problem with the 'one size fits all' attitude of the train operators.

 

[js1000]

I think the problem with automated announcements is they need to be broken up rather than one long drawl that no passenger listens to because they are so long.

"Welcome onboard, this train is for... calling at... etc"

Then 3 minutes into the journey: "If you see anything suspicious please contact... etc"

People switch off when there bombarded with the same information every journey.

 

[takno]

I think the problem with automated announcements is they need to be broken up rather than one long drawl that no passenger listens to because they are so long.

"Welcome onboard, this train is for... calling at... etc"

Then 3 minutes into the journey: "If you see anything suspicious please contact... etc"

People switch off when there bombarded with the same information every journey.

Hell no. That just makes them repeated pointless intrusions into my life. That would drive me absolutely spare

 

[CaptainHaddock]

I think the problem with automated announcements is they need to be broken up rather than one long drawl that no passenger listens to because they are so long.

"Welcome onboard, this train is for... calling at... etc"

Then 3 minutes into the journey: "If you see anything suspicious please contact... etc"

People switch off when there bombarded with the same information every journey.

Alternatively shouldn't the person making the announcements ask themselves "Do passengers need to know this information"? And, if as is the case with 90% of the waffle they spew out, the answer is " no" then they should keep quiet!

 

[anamyd]

Not trains but I remember when Arriva (buses) jumped straight from roller blinds to dot matrix destination displays around the turn of the decade. In some parts of the country you'd get the actual route number and destination only occasionally, because mostly it was fares and find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and all that. It did calm down eventually, probably when it was pointed out they were breaking DDA regs!

 

[physics34]

There is a growing concern in the Maritime world of alarm fatigue, where you get so used to the sound of something going off that you tune out and miss it completely,

various announcements, chimes, buzzers etc. on the railway could easily have the same affect on passengers and staff alike

exactly my point with my original point of starting this thread. i'm one of the other ones...completely tune in, so i hear and notice every beep, buzzer, alarm, announcement etc. Highly irritating.

 

[Tracked]

I was on a TPE from Sheffield to Doncaster today, regular announcements between Sheffield and Rotherham Masborugh, not many pauses between them:

Guard - leaving Sheffield - announces where train is going to, advises about 1st class and that there is no longer a buffet service available after Sheffield

<short pause>

Automated Guy - just before line branches off to Worksop - this is the 15:10 service to Cleethorpes, calling at ...

<short pause>

Automated Woman - not long after Attercliffe - We get the full If you see anything that doesn't look right ... Say It, See It, Sorted. This takes us past the Royal Mail Depot

<Slightly longer puase>

Guard - Brightside - We will shortly be arriving at Meadowhell, please ensure you have your belongings with you, blah blah

<Train Stops at Meadowhall>

Automated Woman - This is Meadowhall, this train is for Cleethorpes, the next stop is Doncaster

<Train sets off>

Guard - This is the Cleethorpes train, apologies but we re approximately xx minutes late

<short pause>

Automated Guy - This is the TPE service to Cleethorpes, calling at ...

This took us round the curve at Masborough, admittably it then quietened down till around Hexthorpe, but even by TPE's standards it felt excessive this afternoon.

 

[anamyd]

Guard - Brightside - We will shortly be arriving at Meadowhell, please ensure you have your belongings with you, blah blah

Did he really say Meadowhell...?

 

[sheff1]

but even by TPE's standards it felt excessive this afternoon.

At least you didn't get the "TransPennine Express abide by the National Rail Conditions of Carriage ...." which was still being played a couple of weeks ago, even though said NRCoC has been obsolete for well over 2 years.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

At least you didn't get the "TransPennine Express abide by the National Rail Conditions of Carriage ...." which was still being played a couple of weeks ago, even though said NRCoC has been obsolete for well over 2 years.

Do they still do the weirdly phrased announcement "If you have chosen to walk past an open ticket office..." on TPE?

 

[Tracked]

Did he really say Meadowhell...?

Sadly not, that would have made it interesting.

 

[Welly]

I find that 61016 is not such an easy number to remember anyway

61016 was a Thompson B1 4-6-0 steam loco named "Inyala" after a species of Antelope if this helps

 

[VioletEclipse]

61016 was a Thompson B1 4-6-0 steam loco named "Inyala" after a species of Antelope if this helps

That's quite interesting, personally I know more about complicated physics that steam engines and I don't have a clue with physics, so any steam engine info is new to me Thanks

 

[geoffk]

I'm thinking of getting some earplugs. Most of my train travel is around Manchester. Rail is the safest form of transport yet the constant safety and security announcements seem designed to give the opposite impression. Particularly annoying is the station announcement about how to alight at a request stop, which could be shortened to about half the number of words.

 

[sheff1]

Do they still do the weirdly phrased announcement "If you have chosen to walk past an open ticket office..." on TPE?

Isn't that part of the same announcement?.

 

[trainophile]

I'm thinking of getting some earplugs. Most of my train travel is around Manchester. Rail is the safest form of transport yet the constant safety and security announcements seem designed to give the opposite impression. Particularly annoying is the station announcement about how to alight at a request stop, which could be shortened to about half the number of words.

Piccadilly - Don’t forget “due to today’s wet weather, please take extra care when moving around the station”, or words to that effect. Usually still being blasted out about four hours after the rain has stopped and everywhere is bone dry.