Northern Class 331: Construction/Introduction Updates

[CrickUK]

Who at Northern decided it would be a good idea to bombard their customers on new trains with endless announcements through the PA. Can the volume be reduced by the crew?

 

[AM9]

Who at Northern decided it would be a good idea to bombard their customers on new trains with endless announcements through the PA. Can the volume be reduced by the crew?

That would be at the risk of some with hearing difficulties missing important messages.

 

[CrickUK]

Important? Incessant anti-litigation babble

 

[AM9]

Important? Incessant anti-litigation babble

Important, maybe not in your case but you don't speak for anybody else.

 

[skyhigh]

I don't know if it's anything to do with the recent temporary scaling back of services which has allowed conductors (who would be operating on services which were temporarily stopped) to be allocated to double units as it has been a feature the last couple of weeks. The timetables were amended because of Covid outbreaks at depots and staff getting pinged, but if staff are available then clearly they have to be allocated somewhere. Will be interesting to see if it continues in September when services return to normal.

It's not got anything much to do with the reduced timetable. No guards are rostered as revenue collectors. Occasionally they will be booked 'assist' on services they would need to travel on anyway, and might do revenue duties as part of that.

Happens quite a lot on the Harrogate line.

Harrogate depot has it's own revenue officers, which is why a higher proportion of trains through there have additional revenue support. In addition, Harrogate guards have more 'assist' working as they often get relieved in Leeds and travel back to Harrogate where they book off.

Can the volume be reduced by the crew?

No.

 

[Kite159]

Interesting... just last week the front unit on the Hazel Grove/Manchester Airport to Blackpool was a fare dodgers' paradise!

It's the same when they run pairs of 150/1s together, all those who think payment is optional generally head to the front unit with the hope of getting away without paying anything (or at worse whatever the price of single from the last station if the destination has barriers or contractor staff.

 

[py_megapixel]

Important, maybe not in your case but you don't speak for anybody else.

Could you please explain in what way the "See it, say it, sorted" announcements being repeated many times in a half hour journey is important? Or why we need to be told that smoking is not allowed on trains, despite signs to that effect being plastered all over the place?

Additionally it is undeniable that some of the announcements could be shorter. "If you're leaving the train here, please mind the gap between the train and the platform edge" could be shortened to "Mind the gap between the train and the platform". Adult human beings are intelligent enough to know that the advice does not apply to them if they aren't leaving the train, and that the gap is to the edge of the platform and not some other indeterminate point.

I don't deny that some announcements are necessary, but to imply there is little or no room for improvement really takes the biscuit.

 

[js1000]

That would be at the risk of some with hearing difficulties missing important messages.

Announcements on 195/331s are unreasonably loud on some units. They seem to vary somewhat.

And how do you define important messages? I certainly don't consider "see it, say it, sorted" and "wear a (optional) mask" as important.

 

[KendalKing]

Announcements on 195/331s are unreasonably loud on some units. They seem to vary somewhat.

And how do you define important messages? I certainly don't consider "see it, say it, sorted" and "wear a (optional) mask" as important.

So, an unattended bag, which may or may not contain explosives, isn't important.

 

[AM9]

Could you please explain in what way the "See it, say it, sorted" announcements being repeated many times in a half hour journey is important? Or why we need to be told that smoking is not allowed on trains, despite signs to that effect being plastered all over the place?

Additionally it is undeniable that some of the announcements could be shorter. "If you're leaving the train here, please mind the gap between the train and the platform edge" could be shortened to "Mind the gap between the train and the platform". Adult human beings are intelligent enough to know that the advice does not apply to them if they aren't leaving the train, and that the gap is to the edge of the platform and not some other indeterminate point.

I don't deny that some announcements are necessary, but to imply there is little or no room for improvement really takes the biscuit.

I didn't imply that it can't be improved, but the poster's view on the validity of some of the announcements is a personal view and not a fact.

Announcements on 195/331s are unreasonably loud on some units. They seem to vary somewhat.

And how do you define important messages? I certainly don't consider "see it, say it, sorted" and "wear a (optional) mask" as important.

"Unreasonably loud" is a subjective personal opinion as is your considering some messages "important". You will note that I haven't said that any particular message is important or otherwise, - had I expressed an opinion it would have been as such and not an unsubstantiated fact.

 

[jonesy3001]

Was on 331105 on Monday, no announcements on that one just the next stop ones.

 

[py_megapixel]

So, an unattended bag, which may or may not contain explosives, isn't important.

You're putting words in people's mouths there... it would be perfectly possible for 61016 to still exist, but be promoted on advertising posters instead. Alternatively the announcement could be shortened. No need to get rid of the scheme to report unattended bags.

 

[cnjb8]

Could you please explain in what way the "See it, say it, sorted" announcements being repeated many times in a half hour journey is important? Or why we need to be told that smoking is not allowed on trains, despite signs to that effect being plastered all over the place?

Additionally it is undeniable that some of the announcements could be shorter. "If you're leaving the train here, please mind the gap between the train and the platform edge" could be shortened to "Mind the gap between the train and the platform". Adult human beings are intelligent enough to know that the advice does not apply to them if they aren't leaving the train, and that the gap is to the edge of the platform and not some other indeterminate point.

I don't deny that some announcements are necessary, but to imply there is little or no room for improvement really takes the biscuit.

Because it’s an ad campaign in effect, BTP want you to remember that phrase so you know what to do when the worst happens. It’s like ‘hands, face, space’, it’s irritating but you remember it.

 

[Bayum]

A cracking video showing the insane acceleration the 331s can show off.

 

[samuelmorris]

And that's a 4-car unit. The 3-cars are evidently faster still?

 

[jonesy3001]

Will they be going back to 3 car workings or staying as 6 cars?

 

[js1000]

So, an unattended bag, which may or may not contain explosives, isn't important.

You'd just report to the guard or station staff.

Doesn't need a stupid "see it, say it, sorted" announcement over the tannoy to inform anyone with a brain cell that would be a sensible thing to do.

 

[Bayum]

You'd just report to the guard or station staff.

Doesn't need a stupid "see it, say it, sorted" announcement over the tannoy to inform anyone with a brain cell that would be a sensible thing to do.

What if someone joins the journey partway through and missed the previous announcement?

 

[js1000]

Will they be going back to 3 car workings or staying as 6 cars?

Will be staying as 6 cars. The 6 car services between Blackpool and Manchester Airport / Hazel Grove have been moderately successful. Carriage capacity through Bolton has been lacking for years but this has solved the problem. Just a shame a pandemic has meant it's too late.

 

[jonesy3001]

Will be staying as 6 cars. The 6 car services between Blackpool and Manchester Airport / Hazel Grove have been moderately successful. Carriage capacity through Bolton has been lacking for years but this has solved the problem. Northern will be getting some 323s so potential we will see more 5/6 car 331 services on other busier routes which have been displaced. There was talk of 6 carriage 323 services but none of them have ADSO for stations with short platforms so can't see how this is possible.

Hopefully they'll sort it before the "17" transfer from WMT, unless they upgrade the routes they're on now, cannot see them upgrading the platforms on the hadfield line unless the 4 car 331s are coming back west.

 

[py_megapixel]

What if someone joins the journey partway through and missed the previous announcement?

Then more than likely there is someone else on the train who has heard the announcement and will report it.

Getting 100% of people, to quote the offending announcement, "remaining vigilant", need not be the aim here. There just need to be enough people in each carriage who are that it will get reported in a timely manner.

 

[D6130]

Hopefully they'll sort it before the "17" transfer from WMT, unless they upgrade the routes they're on now, cannot see them upgrading the platforms on the hadfield line unless the 4 car 331s are coming back west.

I believe that some of the four car units will be heading back West when the six car sets start running on the Leeds North-West services, which are insanely overcrowded at peak times.

 

[Bayum]

Then more than likely there is someone else on the train who has heard the announcement and will report it.

Getting 100% of people, to quote the offending announcement, "remaining vigilant", need not be the aim here. There just need to be enough people in each carriage who are that it will get reported in a timely manner.

You do know that psychology studies have shown time and time again the effect of ‘someone else will do it’ doesn’t hold true?

 

[yorkie]

Just a gentle reminder this thread is to discuss Northern Class 331: Construction/Introduction Updates

Feel free to create a new thread to discuss anything else

 

[IanXC]

And that's a 4-car unit. The 3-cars are evidently faster still?

That is correct