Jordy
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Oh god no 
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thefab444
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Isn't that just what you've always dreamed of Jordy?Oh well, better than Sarah I suppose.
dan_atki
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Wait a sec, if she is on 9 and does indeed alternate then she is also on 4... Aberystwyth and Holyhead should be interesting 
hock: Just as well it can't cope with splits then with Celia doing Dovey Junction to Pwllheli! Or maybe that's what broke it...
Say a campaign for 'global' Phil again? I'm not saying that as a matter of preference either - let's face it, a place like BHM needs a global system to make things easier for people!! It is also just wrong to have Celia there - even Central Trains realised the iconic status of Phil to the extent they got him there on a PR event!
I'm guessing this too means the concourse is now silent from non-stop announcements? The place will have a very different feel to it now.
hock: Just as well it can't cope with splits then with Celia doing Dovey Junction to Pwllheli! Or maybe that's what broke it...Say a campaign for 'global' Phil again? I'm not saying that as a matter of preference either - let's face it, a place like BHM needs a global system to make things easier for people!! It is also just wrong to have Celia there - even Central Trains realised the iconic status of Phil to the extent they got him there on a PR event!
I'm guessing this too means the concourse is now silent from non-stop announcements? The place will have a very different feel to it now.
thefab444
Established Member
I agree with the requirement for the station to be global; all large station should be global really as it is much easier for passengers to hear all the announcements rather than just the ones that apply to the platform they are on. Exceptions being extremely busy locations such as Clapham Junction or London Bridge of course. The voice isn't really all that important, perhaps it could be programmed to alternate every few days or something between Phil and Celia, to give the illusion that there are two real people doing the announcements and they work in shifts?
on Wharfedale 333s:
train arrives at Guiseley (bound for Leeds)
"this is Guiseley. the next station is Leeds. this train terminates here. please take all your belongings with you" (whole announcement made whilst the doors are still open in the platform at Guiseley)
On the platform at Potters Bar recently:
"The xx service to Moorgate has been delayed due to a problem with a Level Crossing"
(What Level crossings are there between WGC & Moorgate that could cause this delay ????)
train arrives at Guiseley (bound for Leeds)
"this is Guiseley. the next station is Leeds. this train terminates here. please take all your belongings with you" (whole announcement made whilst the doors are still open in the platform at Guiseley)
On the platform at Potters Bar recently:
"The xx service to Moorgate has been delayed due to a problem with a Level Crossing"
(What Level crossings are there between WGC & Moorgate that could cause this delay ????)
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OMGitsDAVE
Member
Ill always remember the Harrogate Station Announcement
"If you are eating chewing gum or eating chocolate, don't forget to ask the staff if they wish to have any..."
Then about 20 people ran to the ticket office! aha!
"If you are eating chewing gum or eating chocolate, don't forget to ask the staff if they wish to have any..."
Then about 20 people ran to the ticket office! aha!
Aictos
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Bowes Park has a issue;
The train approaching platform 2 is the xx12 to ..... calling at Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill, Grange Park, Enfield Chase and .......
Or words to that effect, it doesn't seem to like announcing the terminating destination!
Of course, when some money is available then the whole PA announcements across the GN route will be upgraded eventually, sometime next century
The train approaching platform 2 is the xx12 to ..... calling at Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill, Grange Park, Enfield Chase and .......
Or words to that effect, it doesn't seem to like announcing the terminating destination!
Of course, when some money is available then the whole PA announcements across the GN route will be upgraded eventually, sometime next century
dan_atki
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Dear me, more files missing in the Ditra! Just like Southern at Mitcham Eastfields for a while before they got it fixed: 'this is. Mind the gap...'.
What's more amazing is that the station has been opened for a shorter time than St Pancras International, yet Mitcham Junction (also presumably Hackbridge, Carshalton, and Sutton too) still hasn't (unless it's now been fixed!) got STP in the system despite having Eastfields: 'Calling at Mitcham Eastfields, Streatham, ... , Farringdon, Kentish Town, ...'. Would be something if it did go fast through STP! Oddly enough East Croydon to Brighton stations have the file as needed...
And please no, FCC do NOT put Funkwerk on GN. Learn your lessons from the TL side and how poor it is compared to a long line Ditra! Especially seeing as most of the system on the GN side is configured correctly. There is a reason Ditra is probably more expensive than Funkwerk and ATOS Origin systems!
Talking of FCC and Funkwerk - they need to get operators back on announcements and sort out delays of under 10 minutes. Announcements like 'We're sorry to announce that the 1818 service to Brighton is delayed' really are NO help to people whatsoever. (And yes, that is a complete announcement before you ask!).
What's more amazing is that the station has been opened for a shorter time than St Pancras International, yet Mitcham Junction (also presumably Hackbridge, Carshalton, and Sutton too) still hasn't (unless it's now been fixed!) got STP in the system despite having Eastfields: 'Calling at Mitcham Eastfields, Streatham, ... , Farringdon, Kentish Town, ...'. Would be something if it did go fast through STP! Oddly enough East Croydon to Brighton stations have the file as needed...
And please no, FCC do NOT put Funkwerk on GN. Learn your lessons from the TL side and how poor it is compared to a long line Ditra! Especially seeing as most of the system on the GN side is configured correctly. There is a reason Ditra is probably more expensive than Funkwerk and ATOS Origin systems!
Talking of FCC and Funkwerk - they need to get operators back on announcements and sort out delays of under 10 minutes. Announcements like 'We're sorry to announce that the 1818 service to Brighton is delayed' really are NO help to people whatsoever. (And yes, that is a complete announcement before you ask!).
Aictos
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Well I'm very very sorry but I was talking to the technician one day who said that when we do get the upgrade to the PA systems across the GN route, it will be the Funkwerk system as used on the TL route although the Ditra system is so much better.
What system do FGW use then, say at Reading, Bristol Parkway, Bristol Temple Meads, Taunton?
dan_atki
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Campaign number 2 of the day: Stop the GN Funkwerk installation...
(ajax103 - go over to TL North for the day if you get chance - see how bad Funkwerk actually is!
I will say that the only good thing about it is Phil voices it!).
FGW (at their 'major' stations such as those mentioned*) use Ditra like the GN side of FCC. They are installing it at more stations too!
*The FGW stations that are guaranteed to have Ditra are the FGW managed stations at the time FGW, Thames Trains, and Wessex Trains existed before they got merged. Slough and Oxford are two new additions.
(ajax103 - go over to TL North for the day if you get chance - see how bad Funkwerk actually is!
I will say that the only good thing about it is Phil voices it!).FGW (at their 'major' stations such as those mentioned*) use Ditra like the GN side of FCC. They are installing it at more stations too!
*The FGW stations that are guaranteed to have Ditra are the FGW managed stations at the time FGW, Thames Trains, and Wessex Trains existed before they got merged. Slough and Oxford are two new additions.
thefab444
Established Member
The FGW Ditras are nowhere near as advanced as the SWT and SN ones, or if they are, they have universally had features "turned off". They will rarely talk about anything other than a buffet; automated delay announcements have been switched off on a number of stations etc. The stations fitted are:
Bath Spa, Bristol Parkway, Bristol Temple Meads, Chippenham, Didcot Parkway, Exeter St Davids, Newton Abbot, Oxford*, Plymouth, Reading, Slough*, Swindon, Taunton, Tiverton Parkway, Totnes.
* As Daniel said Oxford and Slough are newer installations but don't seem to be majorly different from the rest.
Bath Spa, Bristol Parkway, Bristol Temple Meads, Chippenham, Didcot Parkway, Exeter St Davids, Newton Abbot, Oxford*, Plymouth, Reading, Slough*, Swindon, Taunton, Tiverton Parkway, Totnes.
* As Daniel said Oxford and Slough are newer installations but don't seem to be majorly different from the rest.
Hyperen
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On a London Midland Class 350 from Birmingham International to New St on approach to every intermediate station:
'We are now approaching Watford'
There were a few confused faces but luckily most people laughed!
'We are now approaching Watford'
There were a few confused faces but luckily most people laughed!
on a 185 leaving Windermere: the arriving train was late, so turn round was less than 1 minute after arrival so obviously the system was not reset to the new destination.
therefore, after leaving windermere, the system was still saying it was going to windermenere, but started going backwards as it arrived each station, but was announcing the station that we had just left as being the next station etc - people were getting somewhat confused by Oxenholme whe the guard turned it off.
an evening train on FCC (317 unit) once omitted cambridge in its announcements, implying it was going fast from Royston to Waterbeach.
A couple of FCC drivers tend to make long announcements on the GN route - one in particular seems to like repeating everything at every station (sometimes twice as they don't seem to know whn to stop & after a pause repeat the whole thing again) - somewhat annoying on the all-stations stopper first thing in the morning !!
One driver makes a manual announcement after the automated one to say that the train is dividing at the next station. He always starts by saying "as my colleague just told you..." (i.e. the automated announcement saying what the next station is). His announcements can sometimes be quite amusing.
therefore, after leaving windermere, the system was still saying it was going to windermenere, but started going backwards as it arrived each station, but was announcing the station that we had just left as being the next station etc - people were getting somewhat confused by Oxenholme whe the guard turned it off.
an evening train on FCC (317 unit) once omitted cambridge in its announcements, implying it was going fast from Royston to Waterbeach.
A couple of FCC drivers tend to make long announcements on the GN route - one in particular seems to like repeating everything at every station (sometimes twice as they don't seem to know whn to stop & after a pause repeat the whole thing again) - somewhat annoying on the all-stations stopper first thing in the morning !!
One driver makes a manual announcement after the automated one to say that the train is dividing at the next station. He always starts by saying "as my colleague just told you..." (i.e. the automated announcement saying what the next station is). His announcements can sometimes be quite amusing.
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Presumably these announcements are intended to help those who cannot see what station they are at. So having "The next station is Leeds. This train terminates here" when approaching Guiseley should prompt you to approach the chap with the guide dog who is preparing to get off.
have any of you ever heard the 175 PA system trying to say some of the welsh names on the coast line, Llandudno= becomes Llandudnorrrr and there are a few others including abergele and pensarn which is pronounced in a really posh voice and Chester which is pronounced through clenched teeth!
I have to say it is the most annoying PA system I have ever heard.
I have to say it is the most annoying PA system I have ever heard.
Had a good one at Potters Bar last night:
16:57 stopper to Moorgate is arriving in platform 1 & the doors open. not many people get on.
the screens show the 17:01 fast train to KX is due in platform 2
"This is a platform alteration. the 17:01 Service to London Kings Cross will now depart form Platform 1. Platform 1 for the 17:01 Service to London Kings Cross"
Lots of people waiting now get on to the train at platform 1.
The doors close & train starts to pull out.
"the train at platform 1 is the 16:57 service to Moorgate."
Regular passengers presumably would not have been caught out by this as the stopper is a 313 & the fast service is either a 365 or 317. If not usually catching these trains, it could be very confusing.
16:57 stopper to Moorgate is arriving in platform 1 & the doors open. not many people get on.
the screens show the 17:01 fast train to KX is due in platform 2
"This is a platform alteration. the 17:01 Service to London Kings Cross will now depart form Platform 1. Platform 1 for the 17:01 Service to London Kings Cross"
Lots of people waiting now get on to the train at platform 1.
The doors close & train starts to pull out.
"the train at platform 1 is the 16:57 service to Moorgate."
Regular passengers presumably would not have been caught out by this as the stopper is a 313 & the fast service is either a 365 or 317. If not usually catching these trains, it could be very confusing.
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