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Post by Alight on Apr 10, 2010 16:56:52 GMT
Hello all, I've compiled the following list to give up-to-date details of the digital voice announcers used on board TfL rolling stock (past and present). --- 1986 Stock: Unknown DVA voice-over (can be heard in this clip) CENTRAL/W&C LINES: Janet Mayo 1992-2003. Emma Clarke 2003 + NORTHERN LINE: Celia Drummond 1990s + A different variation of Celia Drummond's voice was used on three (newer?) trains (this also included announcing interchanges on station approach) but these have since reverted back to the original. This clip serves as an example (0:22) Upgraded in January 2016 (with same voice), which removed references to "Mainline", "Intercity", "Suburban" and "International" rail services as well as the removal of "Charing +" and "Circle & Hammersmith." "Exit here for" has been added in, as has a revised termination message. JUBILEE LINE: ANITA 1990s + (but now only announces the terminus) Celia Drummond (mid-2000s) + (replaced ANITA's naming of the station and also announces the station names/interchanges on approach). Upgraded in 2016 to include "doors will open on the X-hand side" message, read by Celia. Michael Meech 1990s + (special announcements such as "This train will now terminate here. All change" or "Please keep your personal belongings, with you, at all times") ___ The Central, Northern and Jubilee all contain a pause between the reading of the station name/interchanges and the terminus. ___ CIRCLE/HAMMERSMITH:C Stock - 'VERA' 1997 - c.2001 (please PM me if you would like a sample). Voiced by Emma Clarke - 2001-2009 and then Sarah Parnell from 2009. S Stock - voiced by Sarah Parnell BAKERLOO LINE: The refurbished 1972 MkII stock was originally voiced by 'VERA'. Upgraded to Emma Clarke during the early '00s. VICTORIA LINE:1967 stock - voiced by Emma Clarke from 2000/01. 2009 stock - voiced by Sarah Parnell. DISTRICT LINE: D78 stock (refurbished) - voiced by Emma Clarke. Please note that a couple of newer recordings have been integrated into the system (e.g. 'Blackfriars is closed...') by Sarah Parnell. Listen carefully to the Temple announcements on this clip. S Stock - voiced by Sarah Parnell. PICCADILLY LINE: Julie Berry (Late 2006). There were announcements before this but could only be activated manually by typing in complex codes; this was voiced by a male driver. METROPOLITAN LINE: A Stock - never had a DVA system installed S Stock - voiced by Sarah Parnell. DLR: Both the refurbished trains and new rolling stock use a text-to-speech system. London Buses: Emma Hignett 2007 + London Overground: Emma Hignett 2009 + Crossrail/TfL Rail (Class 345): Emma Hignett 2017 + Riverboat services: Emma Hignett Tramlink: Nick Owen mid-2000s + and Theo Spring (female voice) 2007 + Tubelines platform announcements: Elinor Hamilton (Phil Sayer for 'mind the gap' and safety messages) BCV platform announcements: Pauline Cavilla 2007 + 'Voice perfect' platform announcements: Henrietta Bass
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Post by t697 on Apr 10, 2010 17:51:00 GMT
I seem to recall that the "unknown male" voice on Jubilee line 1996TS Train Operator triggered DVA announcements is an ex-BBC news reader or reporter. Not sure of the name but maybe Michael ......? I think it was someone from regional news. Remember the recordings were done in about 1995/6 and he was probably recently retired then, so you need to think back a bit!
On the District line D78 trains, the current 'Blackfriars is closed', related messages and (I think) the 'held at a red signal' etc, are by the person who replaced Emma Clarke. Same voice as now on C stock.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2010 16:35:14 GMT
Hmm....Michael? Well, now you mention it the voice does remind me of ex - ITN man Michael Nicholson. As for the A stock, I reckon that old equipment and a knowledge the trains are going to be replaced first had a hand in them not having a DVA......but the 67's are from the same decade and they got them, so maybe not a bad question I suppose.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2010 18:16:29 GMT
Michael Meech!
Michael used to do the early morning travel info for many years. He was (is) a great person and was eager to learn about the Underground. We often had many 'enthusiast' conversations - which, of course, didn't get on air for obvious reasons!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2010 19:35:12 GMT
I heard Phil Sayer at Finchley Road the other day. I was quite surprised, I must say!
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Post by t697 on Apr 11, 2010 19:45:23 GMT
Michael Meech! Michael used to do the early morning travel info for many years. He was (is) a great person and was eager to learn about the Underground. We often had many 'enthusiast' conversations - which, of course, didn't get on air for obvious reasons! Yes! It was Michael Meech. I was about 98% sure, nice to have someone confirm. Also on D78, it's only the Blackfriars stuff that uses the new voice. The other messages added for Driver use were recorded as one of Emma Clarke's last ones for LU.
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Post by Alight on Apr 12, 2010 13:05:45 GMT
Thanks for identifying the male voice announcer on the 1996 stock! I've modified the top post to include this as well as the D78 Blackfriars message being voiced by the new LU standard announcer. I heard Phil Sayer at Finchley Road the other day. I was quite surprised, I must say! I heard him at Southgate the other day as well! He was doing a security announcement. The reason behind this is the Tubelines platform anouncements (for Jubilee, Piccadilly and Northern lines) are voiced by sayerhamilton. In other words, Phil Sayer and Elinor Hamilton are married and tend to do work together. This short YouTube clip is all about them:
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on Apr 12, 2010 20:32:03 GMT
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Post by carlovel1 on Apr 12, 2010 22:28:55 GMT
COOL THREAD!! I never knew Emma done BOTH the iBus System and London Overground! Im intrigued by the hot 1986 Tube Stock
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Post by Alight on Apr 13, 2010 15:46:39 GMT
COOL THREAD!! I never knew Emma done BOTH the iBus System and London Overground! When I first heard the class 378 announcements, I thought they probably were Emma Hignett but didn't have any evidence. I then found this site to prove my theory correct! uk.linkedin.com/in/emmahignett
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Post by carlovel1 on Apr 13, 2010 20:47:22 GMT
The volume on the London Overground announcements is so low , I didn't realise.
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Post by carlovel1 on Apr 13, 2010 20:51:34 GMT
Oh yeah , another thing , how can the Northern line announcer be the same as the Jubillee Line one.They are sound SO different
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Post by Alight on Apr 13, 2010 21:40:42 GMT
Oh yeah , another thing , how can the Northern line announcer be the same as the Jubillee Line one.They are sound SO different Celia Drummond seems to sound different each time she records! Here is an example of her on National Rail: (clip also features the other main national rail station announcers). We tend to refer to the Northern line one as Celia Mk1 (though there are a few Mk2 versions running on the line) and Jubilee line one as Celia mk2. Mk1 is higher in pitch and you're absolutely right, does sound quite different to Mk2. But nonetheless a lot of us are convinced they are the same person!
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North End
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Post by North End on Apr 13, 2010 22:08:24 GMT
Oh yeah , another thing , how can the Northern line announcer be the same as the Jubillee Line one.They are sound SO different Celia Drummond seems to sound different each time she records! Here is an example of her on National Rail: (clip also features the other main national rail station announcers). We tend to refer to the Northern line one as Celia Mk1 (though there are a few Mk2 versions running on the line) and Jubilee line one as Celia mk2. Mk1 is higher in pitch and you're absolutely right, does sound quite different to Mk2. But nonetheless a lot of us are convinced they are the same person! I don't think any versions of the revised announcer are running on the Northern Line, it was tried on at least 2 trains, but these two have now reverted to the original Celia. Presumably the powers that be felt the original version was better.
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Post by Alight on Apr 14, 2010 12:59:58 GMT
I don't think any versions of the revised announcer are running on the Northern Line, it was tried on at least 2 trains, but these two have now reverted to the original Celia. Presumably the powers that be felt the original version was better. Are you positive that this is now the case? The only piece of evidence that exists online to prove Celia Mk2's presence on the Northern line is this YouTube video:
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North End
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Post by North End on Apr 14, 2010 13:07:12 GMT
I don't think any versions of the revised announcer are running on the Northern Line, it was tried on at least 2 trains, but these two have now reverted to the original Celia. Presumably the powers that be felt the original version was better. Are you positive that this is now the case? The only piece of evidence that exists online to prove Celia Mk2's presence on the Northern line is this YouTube video: Yes I am pretty positive - over the last 15 months I have driven every 95 stock unit, the only DVA experienced being the original Celia albeit slightly rejigged to bring it up to date.
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Post by carlovel1 on Apr 14, 2010 14:36:40 GMT
Is it true that the last 3 1995 tube stock had slightly different announcements.
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North End
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Post by North End on Apr 14, 2010 17:35:15 GMT
Is it true that the last 3 1995 tube stock had slightly different announcements. No I don't believe so. 2 or 3 trains were modified around 2006 (ish) with a new announcer, but this has reverted back to the original. I'd guess this happened to coincide with the alterations arising from St Pancras International opening.
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Post by carlovel1 on Apr 14, 2010 18:18:00 GMT
What a shame there arent more videos demonstration the MK2 announcements
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Post by Alight on Apr 14, 2010 21:10:51 GMT
Is it true that the last 3 1995 tube stock had slightly different announcements. No I don't believe so. 2 or 3 trains were modified around 2006 (ish) with a new announcer, but this has reverted back to the original. I'd guess this happened to coincide with the alterations arising from St Pancras International opening. I must admit, I heard exactly the same as Carlove1 that 3 newest trains had different announcements. I didn't think it was as late as 2006 when this happened. But this thread discusses it further. On the second page, someone claims to have first heard it in 2004. Alstom1996 also mentions that it was the 3 newest ones to be delivered that received it. You're right that the St. Pancras international had alterations, though I would assume they only needed to copy over "Mainline Intercity, Suburban and International rail services" from Waterloo (which originally had this) to King's Cross St. Pancras.
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North End
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Post by North End on Apr 14, 2010 22:17:58 GMT
No I don't believe so. 2 or 3 trains were modified around 2006 (ish) with a new announcer, but this has reverted back to the original. I'd guess this happened to coincide with the alterations arising from St Pancras International opening. I must admit, I heard exactly the same as Carlove1 that 3 newest trains had different announcements. I didn't think it was as late as 2006 when this happened. But this thread discusses it further. On the second page, someone claims to have first heard it in 2004. Alstom1996 also mentions that it was the 3 newest ones to be delivered that received it. You're right that the St. Pancras international had alterations, though I would assume they only needed to copy over "Mainline Intercity, Suburban and International rail services" from Waterloo (which originally had this) to King's Cross St. Pancras. Does anyone know what was supposedly different about the last three trains? And was this the last three trains to be delivered or the last three to enter service? The only thing that I can think may have been different was the text on the saloon displays, or maybe something minor to do with timings or similar. I'm near as certain that the spoken messages were always the same on all trains.
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Post by Alight on Apr 15, 2010 17:53:03 GMT
In response to your question North End, I don't know too much about it apart from the voice was obviously different (Celia Mk2) and the interchange options were announced when approaching stations. I hope we can find someone who can help us out by giving the answer!
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North End
Beneath Newington Causeway
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Post by North End on Apr 16, 2010 11:56:04 GMT
In response to your question North End, I don't know too much about it apart from the voice was obviously different (Celia Mk2) and the interchange options were announced when approaching stations. I hope we can find someone who can help us out by giving the answer! If we're talking about the newer voice (as featured in the You Tube clip) this definitely came later, I'd guess in the time period 2004 to 2007 ish. I know one of the modified trains was units 513+514, happened to catch up with that train yesterday and can confirm it has the standard Celia voice now.
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Post by Alight on Apr 16, 2010 12:50:35 GMT
Ah okay well you're probably right then. I wonder if they still announce interchange options when approaching stations, but in the standard Celia voice?
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With regards to Michael Meech, when I've searched for the man in question on google, there seems to be very little results for him. Are you sure you don't mean 'Michael Meacher'?
Another quick question, does anyone know who voices the Croydon Tramlink? It seems to have both a male and female announcer.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2010 10:43:47 GMT
I personally think that the new C-Stock DVA sounds awful compared with Emma Clarke's version ... Was on a H&C train from Liverpool St to Euston Square the other week, and I grew increasingly irritated with the way it pronounced 'Hammersmith' - sounds like she said it with a smile.
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Post by Alight on Sept 10, 2010 20:35:49 GMT
This question is more about DMIs. Does anyone recall the Jubilee line DMIs reading 'Tube Connections' between certain stations? I spotted the DMIs displaying this in a book about London today; it was in the photograph of when Tony Blair rides on the Jubilee line between Waterloo and North Greenwich.
I was wondering what context this DMI reading would have been in? Would it have said 'Tube Connections' followed by a list on approach to the next station? Certainly it does not display 'Tube Connections' anymore.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2010 21:46:04 GMT
"tube connections" rings a bell actually, but this must be circa 2000 possibly 2001/2 but no later than that, I certainly haven't seen that displayed in years. Im pretty sure I recall them repeatedly flashing up "tube connections" followed by scrolling the destination. on the subject of the jubbly system, do you know if the DVA used to announce the millenium dome at NOG or wembley stadium before it closed?
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Post by t697 on Sept 11, 2010 8:57:41 GMT
"tube connections" rings a bell actually, but this must be circa 2000 possibly 2001/2 but no later than that, I certainly haven't seen that displayed in years. Im pretty sure I recall them repeatedly flashing up "tube connections" followed by scrolling the destination. on the subject of the jubbly system, do you know if the DVA used to announce the millenium dome at NOG or wembley stadium before it closed? When the Jubilee line 1996TS was being designed, the advice was that scrolling displays were non-preferred, for some sight loss conditions. So we implemented a changing, static display method. Each phrase was displayed for about 3 seconds before moving to the next until the sentence or statement was completed. It was interesting to develop the scripts so as to be useful without individual phrases looking odd on their own. I seem to recall using 'Tube connections' at some interchanges where the message was quite long, maybe Waterloo or Baker Street, instead of listing all the other lines on the display. I think the audio message had the full list though. North Greenwich did announce The Dome for a while, but I had moved on when later changes came along. I don't think we included Wembley Stadium. Anyone got the original display scripts?
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Post by Alight on Sept 11, 2010 15:05:41 GMT
on the subject of the jubbly system, do you know if the DVA used to announce the millenium dome at NOG or wembley stadium before it closed? I've never heard the dome used, but currently the newer Celia modifications read "Exit here for the O2". At Wembley Park, Celia reads "Exit for Wembley National Stadium" (which I have the recording of) but I don't think this was original. Ah I understand! I bet this is why it is also displays the destination in an unusual way, which I much prefer and wish other lines use - "Destination : West Hampstead" as opposed to "This is a Jubilee line train to West Hampstead". On this static system, were there audio announcements between stations then? The BVE route as shown here on YouTube suggests not.
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Post by t697 on Sept 11, 2010 19:52:31 GMT
I've never heard the dome used, but currently the newer Celia modifications read "Exit here for the O2". At Wembley Park, Celia reads "Exit for Wembley National Stadium" (which I have the recording of) but I don't think this was original. Ah I understand why it is also displays the destination in an unusual way, which I much prefer and wish other lines use - "Destination : West Hampstead" as opposed to "This is a Jubilee line train to West Hampstead". On this static system, were there audio announcements between stations then? The BVE route as shown here on YouTube suggests not. 1. Yes, I'm fairly sure we didn't announce Wembley Stadium for the old one, but they have added it for the new stadium in recent years. 2. Yes, It was originally [Destination:] [Name] on successive screens but I see that for some reason there is now a space before the colon thus [Destination : Name] in the scrolling version. I have no idea why and prefer the original. 3. In the original scheme, the between station messages were supposed to be triggered by the Westinghouse ATC. When the moving block ATO/ATP got scrapped before it was even finished, the residual functions were just the ATO unit reading PAC loops at stations to give the station ID, CSDE and PED door control/proving. So there were no between station messages. Subsequently they have been provided. I'm not clear how, but it could be by distance counting in the ATO or the TMS systems which both interface to Passenger Information System. Perhaps someone closer to recent 96TS developments can tell us.
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