I don't mind him what's his name?
Nobody knows, not even those of us with an interest in such things!
I just refer to him as 'TPE guy'
I don't mind him what's his name?
Standing at Plymouth Platform 5 last Saturday evening, I noticed that the security announcements at platforms 1-5 where given by a woman and the other platforms by a man, simultaneously!
Having visited London and Cornwall the previous week and traveled on some new routes I found that generally the announcing at stations got on my nerves due to the monotonous tone. In Cornwall I missed the local voice. Apparently station announcements are made from Cardiff? according to station staff at Truro.
That would be Anne and Rodger at Plymouth - these are the new voices following the CIS upgrade.
Anne's not too bad, Rodger sounds very automated in my opinion
Anne is terrible, insipid, boring. Bring back Ruth !
Last chance to hear Phil and Celia on FGW, Bristol Temple Meads is changing over in a few weeks.
Adam
This. Anne's VA isn't from Essex, by any chance? (I mean no offensive to anyone who is actually from Essex!)Anne is terrible, insipid, boring.
From what I hear, the new system (and VA) was specifically selected. They didn't just use a default out-of-the-box option like Anne and Roger with ATOS. Victoria now has a VA we've apparently never heard before. It's likely been thought-out based on any staff and customer-feedback, as well as the fact that the Olympics are just around the corner.But if the new voice at London Victoria isn't Anne, maybe they are replacing her now?
Ruth was alright too. Last chance? You sure? Exeter SD still had Phil + Celia a fortnight ago, or have they been replaced now too? :cry:
I doubt if anybody else is still alive who remembers Gatwick Airport station when it opened in 1958.
The announcer who spoke with a 'cut glass' accent, gave information in both English and French.
Anne is terrible, insipid, boring. Bring back Ruth !
Rodger is OK but there is no need to say 'First Great Western' so slowly, as it is in every announcement!
Last chance to hear Phil and Celia on FGW, Bristol Temple Meads is changing over in a few weeks.
But if the new voice at London Victoria isn't Anne, maybe they are replacing her now?
Adam
Anne's not too bad, Rodger sounds very automated in my opinion
That would be Anne and Rodger at Plymouth - these are the new voices following the CIS upgrade.
The previous station announcer at stations previously managed by Wessex Trains, which included all stations in Cornwall were voiced by Ruth, these were orignally controled by Arriva Trains Wales in Cardiff on FGWs behalf - however since the new CIS contract with Telnet, FGW have taken it on themselves, and changed the voice in line with the CIS upgrade.
That is a totally new announcer then, never heard them before.
No idea who the new announcer is at north Kent stations, but it's someone different to Victoria. The Victoria one is alright but the North Kent stations one just sounds wrong pronouncing some stations - Albainy Park and Beckasbourne instead of the correct Albuny Park and Beeksbourne.
Actually, from the clip I heard the actual voice at Victoria isn't new. She's been at several Virgin Trains and one Northern Rail station in the North West for a good few years now and is infamous for saying "only" at the end of the calling points (regardless of how many places the train is stopping at!).
Heard several times in this video at Warrington Bank Quay: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPbrQQXGHnk
No, it's not "Anne", thank goodness. Anne sounds quite "nasally" as well as "Chavvy". They've got her at Platforms 5 and 6 at London Bridge, and really is quite irritating, but that's just my opinion.
Had another chance to listen to it today - to its credit, it is loud (but not as loud as Phil), and is for the most part clear (but again, doesn't have Phil's charm).
I have noticed that the gaps in between the station names are also a bit inconsistent, and the pronunciation for some of the station names are a bit off, e.g. Kearsney should be pronounced as "Kers-ney", not "K-ears-nee" (the A is for the most part invisible.)
It's "Okay", but it doesn't really feel like an improvement in any way - just an unnecessary change and a threat to that cosy feeling of nostalgia most of us enjoy. If money was invested into changing a system that really didn't need changing, then it could have been much better invested elsewhere.
Phil is back for the duration of the Olympics. The new system is apparently provided by AMEY and is proving temperamental - thus the old DITRA system is being reactivated, as it remains in working order (thankfully!).
So the gaps between stations are too long and staff have to manually announce one train?
Find something else to complain about!
I hope Southern take this as a sign to keep Phil for good.
I will definitely be writing to Southern.
No idea who the new announcer is at north Kent stations, but it's someone different to Victoria. The Victoria one is alright but the North Kent stations one just sounds wrong pronouncing some stations - Albainy Park and Beckasbourne instead of the correct Albuny Park and Beeksbourne.