Platform on the left... or on the right?

[Dmitri]

A (rare) travel to the outer part of our 'light blue' line inspired the following question: do you on LU ever announce where is the platform on the next station - on the left or on the right of the train?

[Deleted]

No they don't, or if they do only very very rarely.

[Colin]

Only if it's a change from the norm - say for example we're going westbound and end up on the fast at Hammersmith (and other stations to Acton Town). This would be done to assist blind customers.

[Deleted]

In theory it could be added to the DVA e.g. 'The next station is Kings Cross St. Pancras. Upon arrival, the doors will open on the right side of the train' (where left and right are relative to the direction of travel), however regular travellers would probably get annoyed with it and will know the side of the train to alight at their destination anyway, so it'd likely be a white elephant feature. The only places where such a feature might be considered could be termini and multi-platform stations such as Earl's Court, which would require tying-in with the signalling systems!

[Dmitri]

Thanks for the answers. Just to explain how it works for us. Wast majority of stations in Moscow have platform to the left, so it is not announced - it is a norm. And before those odd stations where platform is to the right (less than 10 out of 170), the 'Platform to the right' notice is added as a friendly reminder to those who are leaning on the normally closed righthand doors ;D.

biolizard said:

'Upon arrival, the doors will open on the right side of the train'

Too wordy, I think... our version consists out of just 2 words ("Платформа справа" - literally 'Platform to the right').

(where left and right are relative to the direction of travel),

Yes.

however regular travellers would probably get annoyed with it and will know the side of the train to alight at their destination

Regular travellers barely need DVA at all (I know all stations between my home and work by their outward appearance).

[Deleted]

dmitri said:

biolizard said:

'Upon arrival, the doors will open on the right side of the train'

Too wordy, I think... our version consists out of just 2 words.

Ah, well, LU like wordy announcements. I actually used the Northern line as a template, as when approaching stations for which the platform is slightly too short for the trains the DVA states

"The next station is Charing Cross [or other station]. Upon arrival, the last set of doors will not open. Customers in the last carriage, please move towards the front doors to leave the train."

Listen to the latest Sonia!

Now that is wordy! ;D

[Deleted]

Trouble is, a lot of visitors/tourists don't realise they are in the last carriage. I don't think I've heard the latest version of the Northern Sonia, I'll keep an ear out for it!!!

[CSLR]

alexh said:

Trouble is, a lot of visitors/tourists don't realise they are in the last carriage.

A lot of visitors/tourists do not seem to realise what planet they are on!

[Deleted]

I don't think that announcement makes the slightest bit of difference to tourists. This is how it usually works:

They go to the door anyway, it doesn't open, they pust the 'open' frantically, the other doors close, and they end up getting off at the next station

Or

They go to the door anyway, see the door doesn't open, see other people getting out of the one lower down, and follow them.

But when do tourists ever walk down to the ends of the platform anyway? In my experience, they just stay near to platform entrance, which on the Northern is usually around the middle.

As for Sonia. I have heard 2 different versions. If that one is the newer one, I hear it all the time. The other one I hear once every 2 weeks usually.

[marty]

Here in Berlin it´s just:

"Ausstieg links"

literally meaning:"Exit left"

[Deleted]

alexh said:

I don't think I've heard the latest version of the Northern Sonia, I'll keep an ear out for it!!!

I quite like it actually, it's different to the usual voice on pre-PPP trains, wonder if they'll use it on the 2009TS? Does anyone know why the 95 and 96s deviate from the standard LU Sonia on the sub-surface and other tube lines (Central, Victoria, Bakerloo), perhaps because PPP meant the trains are owned by external companies?

Edit: Apologies to Dimitri for hijacking his thread into a Sonia one ;D

[Deleted]

Has anyone heard the (?new) auto announcer on the DLR. It's a bit "East End trying to sound posh", innit.