Train announcements

[Autocar Publicity]

I'm not sure how well this will go down with passengers - sounds like a recipe for guards to get into trouble to me - but it's certainly different.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18050473

[Rlangham]

Heh, I like the one about racing tube trains past West Ruislip. An amusing guard can make the difference between an average journey to an enjoyable, memorable one, both on the modern network and preserved sector (such as Beamish's fantastic Tram and Bus conductors!) - I remember one guard on a train to Leicester from Birmingham at peak evening time, making a (purposely) droll, boring voiced announcement on the approach to Leicester, mispronouncing Leicester 'lie-chester' and hoping that all our dreams would come true in this wonderful city!

[Mickey]

Deleted

[52H]

Hi All
A few years ago i was travelling to Blackpool from York. The Guard gave an excellent rendition of Albert and the Lion.He paused between stations,and all the passengers were eagerly awaiting the next verse. It was hilarious.

52H

[hq1hitchin]

Hi All
A few years ago i was travelling to Blackpool from York. The Guard gave an excellent rendition of Albert and the Lion.He paused between stations,and all the passengers were eagerly awaiting the next verse. It was hilarious.

52H

I'll go for that - must have been excellent!

[Bryan]

Around 1987 I remember one trip up the ECML from London when the Guard gave a running commentary as we moved.
On your Left is---
Now on your Right is---

Interesting at the time and as a one off but it would get wearing after a couple of times I reckon.

[StevieG]

" Personally i don't like 'on-train' announcements, they are for the dumbed down society of today.

The announcements that i take exception to are the announcements that give out 'in house' technical information that SHOULD NOT be given out to the travelling public in my opinion.

An example that use to be heard on London radio stations back in the 1990s was-

"There are delays with trains on the Winsdors to Waterloo services due to A TRACK CIRCUIT FAILURE AT Barnes".

In my opinion that sort of 'specialist & technical in house information' shouldn't be given out to the travelling public 99% of which wouldn't know wot a TRACK CIRCUIT FAILURE is??.

.... "

I never like hearing the contracted version of the same thing; - "...due to a TRACK FAILURE".
No doubt Micky, like me, you are used to this actually referring to a 'track circuit failure', but the un-initiated could visualise a broken rail or other broken track components, that could have led to derailment!

A couple of others that I hate, less worrying but, as I always think, potentially rather meaningless to the public, are often used to explain late departure from a train's origin station ; - ".... owing to a UNIT FAILURE", or a "SET SWAP"!

[Mickey]

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[giner]

No doubt a percentage wondered what a signal was and turned to their smartphones to find out. Ain't information on tap wonderful?

[Deltic18]

Isn't it amazing that when 'different' announcements are made by 'comedians', it is acceptable. I remember that not so long ago, guards were being disciplined, and even sacked, for trying to make announcements more pleasing than the usual stuff that was spouted.

[StevieG]

( A little pedantic perhaps, but ...) A few days ago, when passenger on an East Coast working along the ECML, we slowed normally, to an out of course full stop (not at a station), at a location which I knew corresponded with a controlled stop signal.

The hold-up lasted about 5-6 minutes perhaps, during which time the guard/conductor/senior conductor/train manager* must have spoken with the driver about the cause.
.... * - ( Delete according to preference/latest title in use.)

An announcement came : - "......... due to us waiting for a red signal." ! -
- Errr, .... I think we'd already found one!

[Mickey]

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[60800]

With regards to 'modern technology' - stuff the smart phone. I'd rather just have my little LNER pocket watch

I always ignore on-board and station announcements and just look at the info boards - you can never tell what the announcers are saying, especially at the cross! Infact, the only clear announcement I have ever heard was at Edinburgh Waverley a few years ago.

[strang steel]

I remember a few years ago while on an HST from Bristol, we came to a stop somewhere just west of Didcot (I could see the power station nearby). After about 15 minutes the on board announcement apologised for the delay, and informed us this was because the previous train to pass over the stretch we were now prevented from travelling over had reported a loud bang from underneath their train.

Well that really put the passengers on my train in a different frame of mind.