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Post by ducatisti on May 22, 2008 11:46:27 GMT
Oh lucky us, the station is being shut for some works over the next few weekends.
One of the things being trumpeted is a new PA. Does this mean we are going to get the annoying repeated automatic announcements as per Finchley Central (where they seem to fire without checking if another one is going resulting in a garbled noise)?
Has LU taken any notice of the decision against them for noise levels in Kensington & Chelsea.
From (a tolerably experienced) eye, there is nothing wrong with what there is on a non railway-specific side, so unless the staff acommodation/signalling or wotnot is in need of it, I really think there are other stations they could be "benefitting" first.
ho hum...
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Rich32
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Post by Rich32 on May 22, 2008 12:07:24 GMT
Has LU taken any notice of the decision against them for noise levels in Kensington & Chelsea. Erm, no. This week we've had another missive from on high, reminding us how important it is to have the recorded PA's running every 6 - 10 mins (4 - 6 if a busy Z1 station) - just to keep the MSS scores high!  |
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on May 22, 2008 12:12:17 GMT
I guess it's being done now as it sounds like a relatively simple job, and thus doesn't require too long or too many staff. This will give them a another station to add to the refurbed/refreshed list.
Also, I imagine that there has been some serious logistical planning done based on what staff do what, what stations need to have what done, what order that has to be done in (e.g. it's pointless painting walls you need to rebuild later), when things can be done (e.g. maybe you need a track possession to do some stuff and you can't do that until September, so there's no point scheduling stuff that depends on it having been completed until after then), etc. Maybe done as a massive Gantt chart or something.
If so, a small job like West Finchely might fit nicely into a gap of waiting for a bigger project to become possible.
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Post by ducatisti on May 22, 2008 12:34:08 GMT
Today at 12:46pm, ducatisti wrote:
Has LU taken any notice of the decision against them for noise levels in Kensington & Chelsea.
Erm, no. This week we've had another missive from on high, reminding us how important it is to have the recorded PA's running every 6 - 10 mins (4 - 6 if a busy Z1 station) - just to keep the MSS scores high!  If I can hear from my flat, I shall be Investigating My Options... |
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Post by ducatisti on May 22, 2008 12:36:13 GMT
I guess it's being done now as it sounds like a relatively simple job, and thus doesn't require too long or too many staff. This will give them a another station to add to the refurbed/refreshed list.
Also, I imagine that there has been some serious logistical planning done based on what staff do what, what stations need to have what done, what order that has to be done in (e.g. it's pointless painting walls you need to rebuild later), when things can be done (e.g. maybe you need a track possession to do some stuff and you can't do that until September, so there's no point scheduling stuff that depends on it having been completed until after then), etc. Maybe done as a massive Gantt chart or something.
If so, a small job like West Finchely might fit nicely into a gap of waiting for a bigger project to become possible. Oooh! I've worked out how to quote  Agreed in terms of labour use, and it is an easy station to shut down. But its still a waste of flippin' time. Joys of (badly-drafted) contracts |
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Post by edwin on May 22, 2008 20:04:29 GMT
Has LU taken any notice of the decision against them for noise levels in Kensington & Chelsea. Erm, no. This week we've had another missive from on high, reminding us how important it is to have the recorded PA's running every 6 - 10 mins (4 - 6 if a busy Z1 station) - just to keep the MSS scores high! Whats MSS?  |
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Post by Tubeboy on May 22, 2008 20:09:42 GMT
Mystery shopper scores, a load of balls if you ask me.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2008 20:47:32 GMT
Zero MSS = bad boy, slap on the wrist and no brucie bonus for you sonny! ;D
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Colin
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Post by Colin on May 23, 2008 1:53:44 GMT
Has LU taken any notice of the decision against them for noise levels in Kensington & Chelsea. To be precise, Kensington & Chelsea covers only a small part of LU, and as far as I'm aware, the judgment covered Earls Court station - so to that end, it's being taken extremely seriously at Earls Court station  |
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Post by Tubeboy on May 31, 2008 6:14:16 GMT
Just passed through the station, the platforms are fenced off, I didnt see many contractors about though.
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Post by railtechnician on May 31, 2008 9:22:11 GMT
Has LU taken any notice of the decision against them for noise levels in Kensington & Chelsea. To be precise, Kensington & Chelsea covers only a small part of LU, and as far as I'm aware, the judgment covered Earls Court station - so to that end, it's being taken extremely seriously at Earls Court station But noise abatement is a growing issue, Baker Street was slapped with an order many years ago and another place I can recall is Queensbury where some speakers were removed not long after I installed them. I'm sure there have been attempt to restrict trackwork and night maintenance in some areas too. |
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Post by railtechnician on May 31, 2008 9:23:40 GMT
I guess it's being done now as it sounds like a relatively simple job, and thus doesn't require too long or too many staff. This will give them a another station to add to the refurbed/refreshed list. Also, I imagine that there has been some serious logistical planning done based on what staff do what, what stations need to have what done, what order that has to be done in (e.g. it's pointless painting walls you need to rebuild later), when things can be done (e.g. maybe you need a track possession to do some stuff and you can't do that until September, so there's no point scheduling stuff that depends on it having been completed until after then), etc. Maybe done as a massive Gantt chart or something. If so, a small job like West Finchely might fit nicely into a gap of waiting for a bigger project to become possible. Serious logistical planning? That'll be a first! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2008 10:19:17 GMT
Interesting, in that West Finchley was built by the LNER in the 1930s, mostly out of spare parts they had lying around. The only significant change made by LT at electrification was to replace the LNER name signs with LT roundels, so this will be the first refurbishment of a station that is 70 years old.
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Post by ducatisti on Jun 15, 2008 10:26:58 GMT
That can't be right - the main building looks about mid-80s
(OK, there may be a lot of stuff behind the scenes that is older, but all the cable racks look newer, and the pw certainly is newer). This is one of the reasons why I'm curious as to what needs doing to it...
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Post by Tubeboy on Jun 15, 2008 10:44:52 GMT
New seating, lighting, pa system, refurbed staff accomadation, tactile tiles on the platforms.
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Post by ducatisti on Jun 15, 2008 11:41:13 GMT
"New PA system"
the words I knew were coming and dreading...
I know there's a good reason for automatic annoucnements, but they just never shut up... I look forward to being told to touch in and out, to get announcements telling me what the display says (and so having the same errors), announcements that play in both directions when two trains cross (making them unintelligble)...
Feel sorry for the peeps that live by the station.
It's not even as if the PA is particularly unintelligble here either...
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Post by 21146 on Jun 15, 2008 16:13:10 GMT
There's a page on the LU intranet where the company bemoans those local residents who've the cheek to threaten noise abatement orders, or have actually been granted them; as this allegedly prevents LU from achieving its "World Class Metro" status! What arrogance and you couldn't make it up!!! Mind you it also goes on the say that pre-recorded messages about smoking, security etc should NOT be played endlessly on loops as this is not deemed to have any greater effect than the occasional broadcast. Try telling that to my local station where there must be at least one announcement every 30 seconds! It was bliss to be on the Glasgow Subway this week where, apart from door chimes, there's absolutely no endless automated PAs aside from a very occasional station "security" one and the odd live"staff announcement". I also managed to visit and photograph every station inside and out without a single bit of hassle from SPT staff or the "Polis", again something I doubt I'd have managed in London (and Glasgow has had terrorist incidents recently of course). My Glasgow stuff - www.flickr.com/photos/24772733@N05/sets/72157605598209875/ |
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Post by ducatisti on Jun 16, 2008 11:16:12 GMT
heh! Doesn't surprise me at all.
"World Class" is my current most-hated buzzword...
Oh well, I may be one of those naughty people seeking anoise abatement order.
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Post by Tubeboy on Sept 15, 2008 13:44:20 GMT
Just an update.....for the last few weeks, they have had the new style DMIs [Capable of showing the next four trains].
They also now have the super duper PA system. Unsurprisingly, due to several houses being near the track/platforms, this has peeved a few people off, they say they cant sit in their garden or leave the windows at the back of their house open. It has attracted the attention of the local rag [Hendon and Finchley Times]. TFL gave a standard reply, namely the PA's were helpful and were staying, but did stress they would investigate this particular location.
Said rag interviewed a blind Woman, who thought the pa's were helpful, but very loud, maybe they could turn them off and have a member of staff to consult about destinations she said. Problem is. these are one man stations.
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Post by Alight on Sept 15, 2008 15:22:13 GMT
These new intelligent PA systems seem to be installed virtually everywhere where "tubelines" is involved and you are right; can easily be heard away from the station e.g. neighbours.
On the topic of DMIs/PAs, when trains were terminating at Burnt Oak a month ago due to planned engineering works, the DMIs still said Edgware therefore confusing many passengers (the same with on board train announcements). I contacted LU about this and they have replied. Apparently the Northern Line trains don't have a very big memory capacity to hold all the destinations and messages are truncated to fit within the capacity (e.g. the reason why interchanges aren't announced on route).
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2008 16:32:24 GMT
"New PA system" the words I knew were coming and dreading... I know there's a good reason for automatic annoucnements, but they just never shut up... I look forward to being told to touch in and out, to get announcements telling me what the display says (and so having the same errors), announcements that play in both directions when two trains cross (making them unintelligble)... Feel sorry for the peeps that live by the station. It's not even as if the PA is particularly unintelligble here either... yeah It's really getting on my nerves all this tubelines refurbishment stuff I respect the fact that there are visually impared people using the system but it's really starting to get on my nerves the most anoying thing happened at east finchley where two announcments went off at the same time!!! as for 'improved lighting' I fail to see how it's improved, take a look at belsize park it looks very dark and depressing theyv'e even still got the temporary clock! the west finchley refurb is quite pointless |
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Post by ducatisti on Sept 16, 2008 20:36:24 GMT
At least at West Finchley they have turned them down a bit, so it's not like Finchley central where they really do cancel each other out if operated at the same time.
Still add a very small amount of information for high levels of annoyance
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Sept 17, 2008 0:27:33 GMT
Only tangentally related to this thread, but I can't find a more apropriate one at the moment.
Some of the announcements are getting even longer and less relevant to tube travellers. Late on Tuesday night I took the Picc from Earls Court to Holborn. When the doors opened at Piccadilly Circus, the station PA was partway through a message about how the Channel Tunnel fire was affecting Eurostar services. During the entire length of the stop the announcement said nothing relevant to the tube, and nothing of use to intending Eurostar travellers (and certainly nothing that travellers would not have known from other sources). Whether it ever did get to that point of being useful I don't know, as the doors closed before the message ended, so goodness knows how long it is from beginning to end.
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Post by ducatisti on Sept 17, 2008 8:05:18 GMT
This morning they were in perfect antiphase: "nothern (Northern) line (line) this (this) is(is) a(a) High Barnet (Morden via Bank) train (train)
Ged knows what someone who was relying on the PA would have made of that...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2008 9:21:41 GMT
As with Chris M's comment this is only tangentally related, but my favourite announcement cycle is the one that occurs on on the Overground at Kensal Rise whenever there are delays:
"The next train to arrive at the eastbound platform will be the... 17:49 service to... Stratford"
(Two seconds later)
"We are sorry to announce that the... 17:49... service to... Stratford has been delayed by approximately... 5 minutes. London Overground apologises for any inconvenience this has caused to your journey."
(5 minutes later)
"The next train to arrive at the eastbound platform will be the... 17:49 service to... Stratford"
(2 seconds later)
"We are sorry to announce that the... 17:49... service to... Stratford has been delayed by approximately... 12 minutes. London Overground apologises for any inconvenience this has caused to your journey."
(7 minutes later)
""The next train to arrive at the eastbound platform will be the... 17:49 service to Stratford""
(2 seconds later)
"We are sorry to announce..."
Continue ad infinitum.
There's nothing worse than being teased by a PA system.
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Post by ducatisti on Oct 1, 2008 7:58:46 GMT
Interestingly enough, one small peice of sanity has prevailed. At 5.30 am the announcements are much quieter.
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