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Post by burkitt on Jun 27, 2023 12:04:56 GMT
Was it that the technology developed massively in this time? Yes Passenger Information Systems developed extremely quickly at the start of the 1990s. Class 165 built from 1990 were the first new British trains with internal electronic destination display. They had an LCD screen which could show a static line of text, changing every few seconds to cycle through the list of stations and other messages. By 1991 the class 465 and subsequent Networkers were built with LED displays capable of showing text scrolling continuously from right to left. Even now PIS is complex to add in a refurbishment. On the 72TS LED lighting installation is required to free up enough power to supply the PIS - in the nineties refurbishment it may not have been possible either technically or financially to find a way to provide the power PIS would need. |
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Post by influenzyme on Jul 5, 2023 10:31:04 GMT
I just caught unit 3260 and 3532 on Test and with updated announcements at Stonebridge Park and it’s been uploaded on YouTube
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Post by xtmw on Jul 5, 2023 11:10:38 GMT
For those who can't find it, here's the link:
It appears to be the same guy who does the 'See it, say it, sorted announcements
Interestingly they now say something like 'please take care when if you step up and mind the gap between the train and the platform'.
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Post by A60stock on Jul 5, 2023 20:58:50 GMT
My gosh, that sounds terrible, and just does not seem to flow smoothly like announcements on other lines.
Interestingly, why have they gone for a male as the main announcer, which is unlike any of the other lines?
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Post by Alight on Jul 7, 2023 9:59:27 GMT
Yes, male only is a first. I wonder why they've replaced the announcements entirely, when I thought the plan was the retain Emma? The scope was the DMIs, I didn't think this extended to DVA.
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Post by t697 on Jul 7, 2023 15:43:08 GMT
Possibly the current announcement sequence doesn't comply with RVAR or perhaps the current TfL/LUL aspirations for content. Quite likely there wasn't a full set of existing audio files to achieve that with the original artiste.
Or perhaps the relatively small Bakerloo line fleet gives a convenient opportunity to try adding some variety to the LUL system, this time with a male voice.
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metman
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Post by metman on Jul 7, 2023 19:13:48 GMT
I thought the old DVA was knackered! It was faded and unclear so this might be an improvement of sorts!
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Post by smiffy on Jul 8, 2023 1:45:15 GMT
Weirdly, I quite like it. I liked the sound of Emma’s announcements more, but I feel like this just adds another weird unique quirk to the Bakerloo line and that makes it appeal to me for some reason. On any other line it’d feel very out of place, but somehow it feels like it fits the Bakerloo line. It also seems way louder and clearer, does this mean the entire audio system has been upgraded or have they just turned the volume up a bit? It was near impossible to hear the announcements sometimes with how quiet and distorted they were.
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brigham
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Post by brigham on Jul 8, 2023 7:17:57 GMT
" On any other line it’d feel very out of place..."
A male announcer?
I must be missing something here.
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Post by alpinejohn on Jul 8, 2023 7:23:21 GMT
I thought the old DVA was knackered! It was faded and unclear so this might be an improvement of sorts! Yes the old system was far from ideal - especially when announcements coincided with the train passing over points or other noisy sections of tunnel. As for switching to a male voice the new announcements seem to work. By way of background the following observation comes from someone who has spent too much of their early life riding noisy motorbikes and exposed to noisy activity, and with hindsight, this was largely without adequate hearing protection. I am lucky that my hearing loss is mild, but for many tinnitus sufferers the impact is greater on higher pitched sounds, and indeed over time your brain adapts and effectively tunes out a lot of the high pitched hissing sound. One side effect of this natural blocking of higher pitched sounds is that male voices end up being a lot clearer than female voices. Whilst this observation may not align with politically correct aspirations as Al Gore would say it is nevertheless an inconvenient truth. |
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Post by Alight on Jul 8, 2023 8:18:30 GMT
Indeed and the worst were the newer additions of the Sarah Parnell announcements, which could barely be heard at the best of times. This is also the case for where they've retrofitted her at a couple of Jubilee line stations. I am so glad they haven't continued to use Sarah on these modified Bakerloo line trains - good riddance. My gosh, that sounds terrible, and just does not seem to flow smoothly like announcements on other lines. Indeed, considering they're new announcements, they seem very disjointed. I wonder if they are text to speech? I know that's the aspiration for the new Piccadilly line announcements so that LU no longer have to worry about voiceovers passing away, becoming unavailable etc. That being said, if he is the "see it, say it, sorted" man then maybe not. Another point I'd make is I am not keen on this "please mind the step down" announcement - I am hoping this won't be played at every station else the novelty will wear off quick! There was never a specific "mind the gap" announcement made at Regents Park, so why now? |
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Post by smiffy on Jul 8, 2023 15:01:09 GMT
" I must be missing something here. I’m just saying we’ve been so used to Female announcers on the network that it’s unusual to hear an all-male one, and that whilst it’s unusual, it feels somewhat fitting for the Bakerloo to me and I can’t explain why. |
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Post by townvoyager on Jul 8, 2023 15:46:06 GMT
Male announcer gives secuirty message vibes
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castlebar
Planners use hindsight, not foresight
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Post by castlebar on Jul 8, 2023 15:51:54 GMT
Why?
Who are "us"?
Is that a bad thing?
Do you know of anyone else who gets "security message vibes"?
Does a male announcer cause you a problem?
Mod edit [goldenarrow]: Quote removed. Please be selective about the part of a post you wish to quote rather than the whole post verbatim, particularly if you are replying to the previous post in the thread.
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Post by townvoyager on Jul 8, 2023 17:44:53 GMT
It sounds like the male who provides secuirty messages on the Northern line trains.
Mod edit [goldenarrow]: Quote removed. Please be selective about the part of a post you wish to quote rather than the whole post verbatim, particularly if you are replying to the previous post in the thread.
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Post by spsmiler on Jul 8, 2023 21:23:07 GMT
Maybe its just me but I really do not care about the gender of the person who makes these announcements, nor if they are actually computerised text-to-speech messages. What matters to me is: - the volume,
- the clarity of the voice,
- the tone of voice (not shouty!),
- correct pronunciation of place names (said with places such as Greenwich, Woolwich in mind),
- proper grammar (ie: not like the horrific Elizabeth line messages),
- the accuracy of the information,
etc. Regarding regional accents, as this is London a neutral London accent is required. |
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castlebar
Planners use hindsight, not foresight
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Post by castlebar on Jul 9, 2023 7:21:50 GMT
Exactly,
Anyone who considers that on train announcements are in any way intimidating or frightening etc.,
should travel by bus.
Mod edit [Dstock7080]: Quote removed. Please be selective about the part of a post you wish to quote rather than the whole post verbatim, particularly if you are replying to the previous post in the thread.
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Post by quario on Jul 9, 2023 18:04:07 GMT
Also is it just me or do the trains now have speakers on the outside or something since the announcements are so clear when the doors are closed. I know in Chicago there actually are external speakers.
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Post by Alight on Jul 9, 2023 19:17:07 GMT
You are right, the announcements seem to very clear even without the doors open. On that basis, for once the on-train manually-selectable "let customers off the train first please" announcement will be of use; the people it's intended for (i.e. those standing on the platform) will actually be able to hear it! It sounds like the male who provides secuirty messages on the Northern line trains. Yes this has been mentioned already. |
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on Jul 9, 2023 21:18:34 GMT
Also is it just me or do the trains now have speakers on the outside or something since the announcements are so clear when the doors are closed. I know in Chicago there actually are external speakers. The new cl777 got Merseyrail have what's described as an "External PA", intended for warning passengers to stand back from the train and the like. |
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jimbo
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Post by jimbo on Aug 18, 2023 1:46:10 GMT
Bakerloo Line 1972 Stock new automated announcements questions - FOI-1239-2324 - link - 14 August 2023 Plenty of info provided. Surprised this project does not start until May 2024, and will not be completed until June 2026! |
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Post by dmncf on Aug 21, 2023 20:07:26 GMT
The 1972 stock units ('half trains') with wheelchair bays are always at the north end of the train and have new vertical handrails alongside each door in all three cars.
I noticed today a unit at the south end that had new vertical handrails alongside each door in all four cars.
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tony
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Post by tony on Sept 20, 2023 13:57:29 GMT
Indeed and the worst were the newer additions of the Sarah Parnell announcements, which could barely be heard at the best of times. This is also the case for where they've retrofitted her at a couple of Jubilee line stations. I am so glad they haven't continued to use Sarah on these modified Bakerloo line trains - good riddance. My gosh, that sounds terrible, and just does not seem to flow smoothly like announcements on other lines. Indeed, considering they're new announcements, they seem very disjointed. I wonder if they are text to speech? I know that's the aspiration for the new Piccadilly line announcements so that LU no longer have to worry about voiceovers passing away, becoming unavailable etc. That being said, if he is the "see it, say it, sorted" man then maybe not. Another point I'd make is I am not keen on this "please mind the step down" announcement - I am hoping this won't be played at every station else the novelty will wear off quick! There was never a specific "mind the gap" announcement made at Regents Park, so why now? Adrian! |
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Post by dmncf on Sept 26, 2023 20:22:01 GMT
I believe that one or more half trains were refitted with the same blue pattern flooring as the Victoria line trains, as forerunners of the refurbishment. Do these unit(s) still carry this or were they refitted again with maroon flooring?
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jimbo
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Post by jimbo on Sept 29, 2023 20:47:52 GMT
Expected outputs: delivered all trains with LEDs, wheelchair bays and grab poles by March 2025. Passenger Information System planned on 75% trains by March 2026. [Programmes and Investment Committee - 5 October 2023 p.178 / 216]
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Post by townvoyager on Oct 7, 2023 16:28:40 GMT
London Overground routes were mentioned in the updated announcements during a test run:
1) Queen’s Park Station (both directions): Change here for London Overground services to Euston from platform 1.
2) Willesden Junction Station (both directions): Change here for London Overground services to Richmond, Clapham Junction and Stratford from platforms 4 and 5.
3) Kenton Station (both directions): Exit here for the Metropolitan line from Northwick Park Station.
4) Harrow & Wealdstone Station (terminus only): Change here for London Overground services to Watford Junction from this platform.
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Post by xtmw on Oct 7, 2023 17:27:13 GMT
The announcements are available to download via a FOI request.
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Post by Chris L on Oct 8, 2023 15:50:53 GMT
The announcements are available to download via a FOI request. Does it really justify a FOI request which has to go through a number of legal steps which costs significant money. FOI is there for serious concerns in the public interest.. |
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Post by grumpycat on Jun 8, 2024 10:21:59 GMT
Bit of a bump but has the PIS mod unit entered service or not yet?
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Post by goldenarrow on Jun 8, 2024 20:24:09 GMT
Still awaited. Underground News reports that LED conversion of saloon lighting has now been completed, and nine 45xx trailers have had multi-use bays fitted.
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