Hi,
I wondered if anyone might be able to help with this question - in 2005 were there automated announcements on tube trains? Either stating which line it is and the station, or security announcements? If so, does anyone know how they went? Or were these announcements said by the driver?
And was a special security announcement implemented in the days and weeks following 7th July 2005 London bombings? If so, do you know what was said, and whether it was automated or said by the driver?
Many thanks!
Yes in 2005 all trains except A Stock had automated announcements installed on them.
These automated announcements announced the line and this station and next station and destination and were similar format to how they are now. Of course there has been small changes. Such as the Northern Line 1995 Stock trains changed the script that was used. The newer 2009 Stock and S Stock trains also have added disruption announcements. A few voices have changed too with Sarah Parnell gradually replacing Emma Clarke on many trains. But overall it is still a similar format.
Here are the years when each stock had automated announcements installed:
• A Stock - Never had automated announcements.
• C Stock - Had automated announcements since 1997.
• D Stock - Had automated announcements since 2005.
• S Stock - Had automated announcements since 2010.
• 1967 Stock - Had automated announcements since 2000.
• 1972 Stock - Had automated announcements since 1997.
• 1973 Stock - Had automated announcements since 1997.
• 1992 Stock - Had automated announcements since 1993.
• 1995 Stock - Had automated announcements since 1998.
• 1996 Stock - Had automated announcements since 1997.
• 2009 Stock - Had automated announcements since 2009.
So back in 2005 everything except the A Stock would have played automated announcements.
I never remember any extra security automated announcements in 2005 but i think drivers may have been instructed to make extra announcements about reporting unattended items etc.
There were automated announcements. I don't remember anything after July 7th but I'm sure there were plenty of manual announcements.
The automated announcements were the same now on the Central and Bakerloo Lines. The Subsurface lines followed the "This, is X. Change here for X and X. This is an X line train, to X".
I think Jubilee were the same. There used to be another female announcer on the Jubilee in the early days but they went before 2005.
Northern Line announcements changed about 10 years ago. They used to go: "This station is Balham, change here for Main Line Suburban Rail services. This train terminates at Edgware, via Bank."
At places like Euston, they announced "Main Line Intercity and suburban rail services."
The original voice on the Jubilee Line 1996 Stock is still used but only for the destination. Maggie Greenwood originally voiced everything from 1997 to 2003 including "this station" and "next station" and "this train terminates at" announcements. Then in 2003 they added Celia Drummond for the "this station" and "next station" announcements but kept Maggie Greenwood for the "this train terminates at" announcements. This is still how it is today. So both voices can still be heard.