Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
I personally prefer automated as it stops the waffle and tells you what you need to know, but with trains such as Eurostar and Virgin, I suppose it's nice having manual announcements as it presents the staff as friendly and willing to help.
As I've said before I quite like the "banter" of a male and female autoannouncer on the Pendolinos.
Celia re recorded some of her announcements whilst at Birmingham New Street, especially the Welsh ones. The woman at 11:11 is still there now, she always interrupts or repeats the auto announcements in her own way. (She always sounds miserable but I'm sure she's lovely really)
There's something about Brummies sounding bored even when they aren't. "Holly" on Red Dwarf was the classic.