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Announcements overkill

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fishquinn

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Unpleasant announcements on the 1310 from London Marylebone today.

The Guard told everyone to stay 2 metres apart (despite the fact more sensible train operators have abandoned that in accordance with the latest guidelines) and stated that anyone who does not have their mask on for the full journey is liable to an on the spot £100 fine.

No mention of exemptions, and anyone taking it at face value would have assumed food & drink was banned too!

None of the usual welcome stuff either, just warnings and threats.

I used to think Chiltern were one of the more decent TOCs but some of their actions are making me question that.

The experience on my LNER train was much better, the message was spot on.
Assuming it was the usual guard for that service this doesn't surprise me at all - there's a select few on Chiltern who are taking this approach re announcements and none of them had the greatest customer service skills even before all this.
 
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RailUK Forums

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Unpleasant announcements on the 1310 from London Marylebone today.

The Guard told everyone to stay 2 metres apart (despite the fact more sensible train operators have abandoned that in accordance with the latest guidelines) and stated that anyone who does not have their mask on for the full journey is liable to an on the spot £100 fine.

No mention of exemptions, and anyone taking it at face value would have assumed food & drink was banned too!

None of the usual welcome stuff either, just warnings and threats.

I used to think Chiltern were one of the more decent TOCs but some of their actions are making me question that.

The experience on my LNER train was much better, the message was spot on.

Hmmm... I was looking at doing either a London-Birmingham or Birmingham-London journey with Chiltern soon, especially to get a good lengthy journey on a Class 68 again, which I haven't done for a while now. I note that Chiltern unlike some other operators, are at least offering some cheap advance fares. But after reading your message about these unpleasant unwelcoming announcements onboard, I think I'll give that a miss for the time being.
 

Jamiescott1

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Hmmm... I was looking at doing either a London-Birmingham or Birmingham-London journey with Chiltern soon, especially to get a good lengthy journey on a Class 68 again, which I haven't done for a while now. I note that Chiltern unlike some other operators, are at least offering some cheap advance fares. But after reading your message about these unpleasant unwelcoming announcements onboard, I think I'll give that a miss for the time being.

Commuting every day with chiltern I know which driver he is referring to.
All the chiltern staff have been pleasant to me and they were even handing out free face coverings at the start
 

CHESHIRECAT

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I encountered an issue with train announcements today.

A friend and I were at Carlisle and the Avanti 390 was announced as 'Standard Unreserved seating in Coach C', but when we sat in Coach C, the Train Manager shouted (and I mean shouted) at us that this was 'NOT FOR OUR USE' and that our behaviour was 'DANGEROUS!', perhaps I just got unlucky with the TM, but she was extremely angry with us, I was just following the announcements on the station.

She also announced that masks must be worn on this service and that anyone without a mask should be reported to the BTP and will be removed. I genuinely feel awful for those with medical exemptions, they're being made to feel like third-rate citizens, I expected better than this from this country.
absolute joke; and as for this 'occupy aisle seats only ' on half empty trains (sorry window seat!)
 
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FQTV

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If you'd like to recreate the full atmosphere at home, Aviavox is offering free downloads of a special set of Covid announcements:

https://aviavox.com/covid19/#downloads

I may see if it's possible to programme my doorbell at home to play the 'AviaVox - En - PSA-12 - maximum capacity' announcement.

Or, if it can detect exactly who's calling, then 'AviaVox - En - PSA-15 - parents outside' could be useful.
 

johntea

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Northern have sorted out a few new announcements and seem to have nicked that boring priest from Father Ted to record them :D
 

CaptainHaddock

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Northern have sorted out a few new announcements and seem to have nicked that boring priest from Father Ted to record them :D

Anything's better than that matey voiced bloke who urges you to spy on your fellow passengers and seems to think there's a massive gap between the train and the platform at every single Northern-served station!
 

Huntergreed

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I walked to a station to pick up tickets today. In the space of 10 minutes there were 2 'face coverings are mandatory' announcements and 1 'my parent is a key worker' announcement. When is this endless stream of auditory nuisance going to end. :(
 

Richard Scott

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I walked to a station to pick up tickets today. In the space of 10 minutes there were 2 'face coverings are mandatory' announcements and 1 'my parent is a key worker' announcement. When is this endless stream of auditory nuisance going to end. :(
Don't they realise that people get fed up with it in the end and don't just ignore it but probably some go against it as it becomes so infuriating? I know I'm fed up with certain adverts on the television trying to make us all 'feel safe'. Good job I've not ventured onto the rail network for a while. When I do best I take ear plugs!
 

CHESHIRECAT

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Just had the 'wash your hands ' lecture announcement twice from Piccadilly to Wilmslow!!
If covid doesn't get us this drivel will !
 

Scotrail314209

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On a First bus atm. After every stop the bus opens it’s doors at tgere is always an announcement saying to wear a face covering as it is mandatory.
 

J-2739

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Is it just me, or is it that every single announcement relating to "social distancing" or "facemasks" seem to be voiced by the same guy, with the overenthusiastic, grating, "EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!" drone of a voice? :s

Awful.
 

route101

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On a First bus atm. After every stop the bus opens it’s doors at tgere is always an announcement saying to wear a face covering as it is mandatory.

What bus is that? Not heard anything like that in Glasgow.

Southern Vectis on Isle of Wight had announcements onboard
 

NorthOxonian

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On a First bus atm. After every stop the bus opens it’s doors at tgere is always an announcement saying to wear a face covering as it is mandatory.

Go North East have a similar announcement, but it only plays after major destinations (presumably when they expect many people will have got on). Usually town centres or large bus stations.

Though it is a little out of date - only recommending face coverings rather than saying that they are mandatory!
 
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