|
|
Post by elshad on Jun 4, 2022 16:09:16 GMT
Anyone else feel the quality of the (automated) announcements on TfL rolling stock keep getting worse and worse?
Compare the Julie Berry voice on the 1973 Stock and Class 315s (natural, speaks in full sentences, flows smoothly, no awkward pauses, doesn’t sound robotic) to the horrible (IMHO) announcements on the Class 345s. A massive downgrade!
|
|
class411
Operations: Normal
Posts: 2,743 
|
Post by class411 on Jun 4, 2022 17:46:34 GMT
I think the S-Stock ones are generally an improvement on what came before.
|
|
|
|
Post by brooklynbound on Jun 4, 2022 18:55:10 GMT
I noticed that while the District was suffering in the wake of this week's fire
there was an automated announcement clearly added by someone who didn't pass their English exam.
"There is delays..."
I was amazed nobody demanded it was changed because to me it sounded as if TfL doesn't care about getting things right.
|
|
|
|
Post by t697 on Jun 4, 2022 19:10:38 GMT
I noticed that while the District was suffering in the wake of this week's fire there was an automated announcement clearly added by someone who didn't pass their English exam. "There is delays..." I was amazed nobody demanded it was changed because to me it sounded as if TfL doesn't care about getting things right. I'm sure that one wasn't caused by limitations in the available library of words and phrases! I understand they can review the announcement before sending it too. But I suppose some people think "There is delays..." is actually acceptable grammar. Made you listen though! |
|
class411
Operations: Normal
Posts: 2,743
|
Post by class411 on Jun 4, 2022 20:38:02 GMT
Some people couldn't care fewer about grammar.
|
|
Antje
侵略! S系, でゲソ! The Tube comes from the bottom of London!
Posts: 605
|
Post by Antje on Jun 5, 2022 4:34:07 GMT
I am hoping that Microsoft Sam will not voice the announcements for the 2024 tube stock: the point being that the capacity of modern storage media leaves little reason to economise on the library of words and phrases.
|
|
|
|
Post by t697 on Jun 5, 2022 11:32:39 GMT
I am hoping that Microsoft Sam will not voice the announcements for the 2024 tube stock: the point being that the capacity of modern storage media leaves little reason to economise on the library of words and phrases. I think that the 2024 tube stock's system may be advanced enough not to need to rely on an onboard library of words and phrases. |
|
|
|
Post by AndrewPSSP on Jun 5, 2022 20:05:27 GMT
Aren't the DLR ones some form of text-to-speech?
|
|
|
|
Post by humbug on Jun 6, 2022 6:58:46 GMT
As a regular traveller on the 345's, it's not the quality of the announcements that bothers me, it's the sheer quantity.
I try and filter them out. Maybe should try headphones!
|
|
|
|
Post by ted672 on Jun 6, 2022 10:00:43 GMT
I noticed that while the District was suffering in the wake of this week's fire there was an automated announcement clearly added by someone who didn't pass their English exam. "There is delays..." I was amazed nobody demanded it was changed because to me it sounded as if TfL doesn't care about getting things right. |
|
|
|
Post by trt on Jun 6, 2022 11:32:43 GMT
The quality of signage is also taking a turn for the worse. For example they put up some signs at Euston recently, over the newly widened ramps from 8-11... Might as well have written it in microdot. Can barely read them from the NR gateline. There used to be someone who went around stations planning all the signage - in the 70s and 80s they did an excellent job, but more recently... I don't know... just seems lazy and no care taken. There's signs hanging in front of DMIs, for example. Places where you might need to make a decision on which platform is most expeditious for you, but there's no information.
Network Rail isn't much better TBH. I recently had a run in with the departures board at Liverpool Street - that's an esoteric beast at best. At worst it's a total nightmare. Split into an east and a west section, which apparently (I had to ask) relates to the direction that the service termination generally tends towards. Not divided by operator, not "two different bits of a station" - there are often the same platforms shown on the east and west boards... So you know you want the 13:19 to get somewhere to the north of London, but you have to scan the entire board to find that there are TWO 13:19s going to different places, one described as east, the other west.
|
|
|
|
Post by xtmw on Jun 6, 2022 13:05:51 GMT
Anyone else feel the quality of the (automated) announcements on TfL rolling stock keep getting worse and worse? Compare the Julie Berry voice on the 1973 Stock and Class 315s (natural, speaks in full sentences, flows smoothly, no awkward pauses, doesn’t sound robotic) to the horrible (IMHO) announcements on the Class 345s. A massive downgrade! Apparently they're simpler for tourists. |
|
|
|
Post by t697 on Jun 6, 2022 13:44:48 GMT
Anyone else feel the quality of the (automated) announcements on TfL rolling stock keep getting worse and worse? Compare the Julie Berry voice on the 1973 Stock and Class 315s (natural, speaks in full sentences, flows smoothly, no awkward pauses, doesn’t sound robotic) to the horrible (IMHO) announcements on the Class 345s. A massive downgrade! Conversely, additions and modifications to the visual and audio announcements on the Northern line trains have rendered them so verbose that they overrun the available dwell time at stations and between stations and get out of step. The visual ones are particularly bad but the audios aren't perfect either. |
|
|
|
Post by d7666 on Jun 6, 2022 14:44:09 GMT
Anyone else feel the quality of the (automated) announcements on TfL rolling stock keep getting worse and worse? Compare the Julie Berry voice on the 1973 Stock and Class 315s (natural, speaks in full sentences, flows smoothly, no awkward pauses, doesn’t sound robotic) to the horrible (IMHO) announcements on the Class 345s. A massive downgrade! Conversely, additions and modifications to the visual and audio announcements on the Northern line trains have rendered them so verbose that they overrun the available dwell time at stations and between stations and get out of step. The visual ones are particularly bad but the audios aren't perfect either. Indeed, ref Northern line. There was some internal emailage [that started with a different subject] flying around about some of those, to which I (as a passenger) contributed an example: there is (well there was it has been a while now so might have been sorted) one south of Kennington that managed to over run an inter station run time it was that verbose. |
|
|
|
Post by AndrewPSSP on Jun 7, 2022 13:52:37 GMT
"This train terminates at x" still perfectly suffices on the Jubble, what's wrong with "...terminates at x via y" on the Northern?
I don't understand this obsession with announcing the line on the train.. with all the platform train announcements saying the line before the destination, does the information need to be told multiple times?
South of Kennington, there's only Balham or Stockwell with interchanges. The last update made the Balham announcement less verbose - "National Rail services" as opposed to "mainline suburban rail services". I can only imagine it's the destination announcement that's making it run over. (Perhaps "This is a Northern line train (via Charing Cross) terminating at Mill Hill East" in the peaks?)
It's quite amusing how, the distance between Embankment and Charing Cross is so small, that often by the time the doors open at Charing Cross northbound the SDO announcement is still playing
|
|
|
|
Post by d7666 on Jun 7, 2022 14:29:44 GMT
"This train terminates at x" still perfectly suffices on the Jubble, what's wrong with "...terminates at x via y" on the Northern? I don't understand this obsession with announcing the line on the train.. with all the platform train announcements saying the line before the destination, does the information need to be told multiple times? South of Kennington, there's only Balham or Stockwell with interchanges. The last update made the Balham announcement less verbose - "National Rail services" as opposed to "mainline suburban rail services". I can only imagine it's the destination announcement that's making it run over. (Perhaps "This is a Northern line train (via Charing Cross) terminating at Mill Hill East" in the peaks?) It's quite amusing how, the distance between Embankment and Charing Cross is so small, that often by the time the doors open at Charing Cross northbound the SDO announcement is still playing |
|
|
|
Post by d7666 on Jun 7, 2022 14:32:55 GMT
If this were main line TOC operated and LU treated as a TOC you'd get "this is the London Underground < X line > service ... ......." Etc every time
|
|
|
|
Post by t697 on Jun 7, 2022 17:54:45 GMT
Yes, Embankment to Charing Cross is one of, if not the most egregious example!
|
|
|
|
Post by xtmw on Jun 9, 2022 14:44:57 GMT
There are new announcements on most of the deep level trains. 'When you see something that looks unusual speak to a member of staff or text British Transport Police on 61016 and we'll get it sorted. That's 61016. See it, say it, sorted.'
|
|
|
|
Post by xtmw on Jun 9, 2022 14:50:05 GMT
I noticed that while the District was suffering in the wake of this week's fire there was an automated announcement clearly added by someone who didn't pass their English exam. "There is delays..." I was amazed nobody demanded it was changed because to me it sounded as if TfL doesn't care about getting things right. May I add something too - when there are delays on a line. It says 'The ... Line is part suspended between ... and ... due to a ...' on the PIS it says 'good service On The rest of the Line' Terrible grammar! |
|
gantshill
I had to change my profile pic!
Posts: 1,371
|
Post by gantshill on Jun 9, 2022 19:53:02 GMT
I always cringe a bit at Baker Street: "All doors on this car will not open" It takes me a moment to parse the meaning. "No doors on this car will open" or "All doors on this car will stay closed" would would quicker for me to understand.
|
|
|
|
Post by AndrewPSSP on Jun 9, 2022 22:50:25 GMT
There are new announcements on most of the deep level trains. 'When you see something that looks unusual speak to a member of staff or text British Transport Police on 61016 and we'll get it sorted. That's 61016. See it, say it, sorted.' Never heard the number pronounced like that! Part of me wishes they could have gotten Celia's 61016 message from the SWT trains but of course real world contracts and such probably wouldn't allow that |
|
|
|
Post by brigham on Jun 10, 2022 7:50:26 GMT
It's a good way to make the number memorable, isn't it? Like WHItehall One-two one-two.
Was anyone else reminded of "That's K-E-Y-N-S-H-A-M..."?
|
|
|
|
Post by xtmw on Jun 10, 2022 10:29:45 GMT
There are new announcements on most of the deep level trains. 'When you see something that looks unusual speak to a member of staff or text British Transport Police on 61016 and we'll get it sorted. That's 61016. See it, say it, sorted.' Never heard the number pronounced like that! Part of me wishes they could have gotten Celia's 61016 message from the SWT trains but of course real world contracts and such probably wouldn't allow that I always thought it was 'six one zero one six' but LU have decided to go 'six one oh one six' |
|
|
|
Post by MoreToJack on Jun 10, 2022 11:05:29 GMT
Most operational staff will naturally say 'six-one-zero-one-six' because that is the appropriate standard for speaking numbers in safety critical communications - it's a surprisingly hard thing to unlearn.
However, I've heard 'six-one-oh-one-six' (with even spacing) in plenty of places too - it's arguably more accessible as most people will say 'oh' and not 'zero'.
LU's distinction seems to be 'six (pause) one-oh-one (pause) six', which is indeed new (and, arguably, wrong - for an organisation that has done lots of research into how people respond to announcements, highlighting the '101' part is arguably not the best idea.
|
|
|
|
Post by brigham on Jun 10, 2022 11:41:08 GMT
Six, 101, Six...
Even I can remember that.
|
|
|
|
Post by trt on Jun 10, 2022 12:42:30 GMT
You mean it's not 0118 999 881 999 119 7253?
|
|
|
|
Post by t697 on Jun 10, 2022 18:33:46 GMT
The intonation of 61016 and the revised script were new requirements. I'm anticipating that other operators will be told to do the same in time.
|
|
Chris M
Global Moderator
Forum Quizmaster
Always happy to receive quiz ideas and pictures by email or PM
Posts: 19,758
|
Post by Chris M on Jun 10, 2022 19:56:35 GMT
You mean it's not 0118 999 881 999 119 7253? 081 811 8181 |
|
Tom
Administrator
Signalfel?
Posts: 4,196
|
Post by Tom on Jun 10, 2022 20:31:57 GMT
Showing your age there Chris, everyone knows it should be 0181 811 8181. And on that note, let's get back to the topic at hand... |
|
