S stock new announcement

Indeed S7 & S8 Stock are having the CIS upgraded:

"Over the next couple of weeks a software update will be rolled out across the S Stock fleet (starting with the S7's). The changes as a result of this software update are as follows:
1) Four new Train Operator selectable ‘Manual Messages' are added, providing the following new visual and audio messages;
- 31 'Help us to operate a reliable service by taking your litter and newspapers with you'
- 32 'Customers are reminded that smoking and drinking alcohol is not permitted on London Underground.'
- 33 'Customers are reminded not to place feet on the seats, thank you.'
- 34 'Please give your seat to others who might need it more.'

2) Automatic SDO messages are added for;
- Dagenham East EB (1 front cut out for platform 2),
- Hornchurch EB (1 front cut out)
- Acton Town EB (1 rear cut out for platform 4).

3) The automated Mind the Gap announcement is replaced by a new audio recording. The audio and visual scripts are changed to remove the word ‘Please'. For avoidance of doubt, there are no changes to stations where this is used.

4) New ‘Exit for' messages added on to the visual and audio messages approaching stations on all relevant ‘trips' as follows:
- Euston Square - ‘The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association'
- West Kensington (District line trips only) – ‘Olympia London'
- Hammersmith (H&C)(Circle and H&C line trips) – ‘bus services to Olympia London'
- High Street Kensington (Circle line & District line trips) – ‘Olympia London'
- Olympia (District line trips only) – ‘Olympia London'. (Replaces existing message)
- Barbican - ‘the Museum of London'.

5) Destination Changes are announced in an enhanced manner to Passengers.

6) The trigger distance for the approaching station messages at a number of ‘in town' stations is increased from 250m to 350m to ensure longer interchange messages complete before the train stops."

Thanks for the post, I heard the new 'mind the gap' this morning, and wondered if I was going mad or if it really had changed! Agree with the OP, it does sound awful!

It sounds less assertive than the previous version, but equally, the announcer's use of intonation will more likely draw attention to the announcement. I think that saying it sounds awful is a bit of an overstatement, it just sounds different. Remember what people where saying when they first introduced the "mind the gap" announcements - for those who couldn't remember, it was along the lines of "this is awful" "what on earth made them think this was a good voice to use" etc. Give it time and you'll come to like it, just like anything else

I agree with you that messages 33/34 I can't really see being used all that much, but 31 might see some use when on the approach to termini or other places where you might expect large numbers of passengers to disembark. Perhaps what would have been better is sewing message 31 onto the messages used on approach to these stations, or something more along the lines of:
"The next station is X, where this train terminates. Change for (blah blah blah). Please remember to take all your personal items and litter with you when you leave the train. All change please"

I thought something sounded different the other day! Have the messages changed for Upminster to mention the impending Overground takeover on the line to Romford? Were the odd routes for the two H&C trains that stable at Upminster added, or is this something that won't happen?

This is going back maybe a year, as I got on the Vic line train in my wheelchair the drive came on the PA and told the people sitting in the wheelchair space to move.

I've always thought that the 'between the train and the platform' ridiculous, but I suppose to anyone completely unfamiliar with train travel it might clarify what is meant.

My favourite MTG announcement was at Victoria in (I think) the seventies/eighties.

What sounded like and oldish person with a strong West Indian accent voiced the warning (I never could figure out if it was a recording or just a member of the station staff saying it each time as it wasn't obviously synchronised with the train movements).

He intoned it as: "Miiiiieeendthegap" with 'the gap' spoken very quickly. It always sounded very friendly.

In my days using the Central Line there was a West Indian geezer at Bank who often sang announcements. Even the sourest faced commuters couldn't help grinning at each other. There should be more of this type of individual irreverence encouraged in LUL employees by the management. Commuting by tube when I did it was terrible so with the numbers of passengers involved now it must be hell on earth. A bit of levity from that station worker went a long way to making a miserable experience bearable.