Deepgreen
Established Member
There is a growing annoyance of the railway producing verbose messages. The point of the evolution of language is to become more efficient, but this seems to be in reverse on the railway. Verbosity simply makes people switch off and the messages become a pointless background drone. Some examples I encounter frequently are:
"If you see anything suspicious, or anyone acting suspiciously, please report it to a member of staff or the British Transport police". Far too long and repetitive - "people acting suspiciously" is perfectly well covered by "anything suspicious", and who else is someone going to report to but staff or police? Also, if non-BT police happen to be around, can they not be reported to?
Translation: "Please report anything suspicious".
"For your safety and security, this train is fitted with CCTV".
Translation: "CCTV is in use".
"Our next station stop is...".
Translation: "The next station is..."
"We are now arriving into...".
Translation: "We are now arriving at...".
"We are now approaching xxxxxx, our final stop for this service. Please have your tickets and travel documents ready for the automatic gates." Ridiculously long, and why only have tickets ready here and not at the other stations en route with gates?
Translation: "We are now approaching xxxxxx. This train terminates here".
"This train divides en route at xxxxxx". Where else can it divide but at a point in its journey (i.e. en route)?
Translation: "This train divides at xxxxxx".
"Please stand well back behind the yellow line". Why "well back" - has the line been painted in the wrong place?
Translation: "Please stand behind the yellow line".
"Please ensure you have all your luggage and personal belongings with you when you leave the train".
Translation: "Do not leave anything on the train."
"Another portion is about to be attached to this train. Please remain seated while the attachment takes place". Why the second sentence? Passengers are not asked to remain seated at junctions, when approaching termini, or in general when the train is on the move when jolting can potentially be much more noticeable. What about those passengers who have no seats (a common scenario) when the attachment is being made?
Translation: "More coaches are about to be attached to this train".
"If you see anything suspicious, or anyone acting suspiciously, please report it to a member of staff or the British Transport police". Far too long and repetitive - "people acting suspiciously" is perfectly well covered by "anything suspicious", and who else is someone going to report to but staff or police? Also, if non-BT police happen to be around, can they not be reported to?
Translation: "Please report anything suspicious".
"For your safety and security, this train is fitted with CCTV".
Translation: "CCTV is in use".
"Our next station stop is...".
Translation: "The next station is..."
"We are now arriving into...".
Translation: "We are now arriving at...".
"We are now approaching xxxxxx, our final stop for this service. Please have your tickets and travel documents ready for the automatic gates." Ridiculously long, and why only have tickets ready here and not at the other stations en route with gates?
Translation: "We are now approaching xxxxxx. This train terminates here".
"This train divides en route at xxxxxx". Where else can it divide but at a point in its journey (i.e. en route)?
Translation: "This train divides at xxxxxx".
"Please stand well back behind the yellow line". Why "well back" - has the line been painted in the wrong place?
Translation: "Please stand behind the yellow line".
"Please ensure you have all your luggage and personal belongings with you when you leave the train".
Translation: "Do not leave anything on the train."
"Another portion is about to be attached to this train. Please remain seated while the attachment takes place". Why the second sentence? Passengers are not asked to remain seated at junctions, when approaching termini, or in general when the train is on the move when jolting can potentially be much more noticeable. What about those passengers who have no seats (a common scenario) when the attachment is being made?
Translation: "More coaches are about to be attached to this train".
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