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Post by bevok on Nov 7, 2006 18:26:01 GMT
Returning from Heathrow last night I was surprised to hear an automated female voice announcing every station on the way! I presume/hope that this is a trial as the message was rather faded at the beginning at times. Also the fact that virtually every station on the Heathrow extension had the mind the gap message can only mean that this comes to be ignored, I think this should be saved for stations with a 'serious' gap like Hoburn.
Personal preference only but its a shame they couldn't get the same guy who did the previous announcements in very prim and proper language! That voice has become part of travelling on the Picc line - lets hope they can track him down!
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Colin
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Post by Colin on Nov 7, 2006 18:36:35 GMT
See THIS THREAD. The male voice belongs to an Arnos Grove based Piccadilly line driver. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2006 18:58:42 GMT
I also agree about the loss of the male voice in the DVA - it was one thing that made the Piccadilly unique.
Besides, his Greek accent actually made the announcements among the most easily comprehended on the Underground.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2006 5:37:55 GMT
The new announcements have been nicknamed NORRIS by a few Picc T/Ops...
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2006 6:44:39 GMT
spoke to a picc driver who told me there were some problems with it (to say the least) and it interfered with the train radio or something!
also that even when it is working there are all kinds of problems, like telling foreigners at heathrow the next station is bounds greeen so they get off and meaning they can only display heathrow t4 on the front. (not sure how this works as i've only ever driven stock with the conventional blind).
i also use the picc most days and have only heard the new DVA once!
sorry, this has probably all been discussed in the other thread, but im in a hurry. feel free to delete/move it. ;D
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2006 13:41:26 GMT
Also the fact that virtually every station on the Heathrow extension had the mind the gap message can only mean that this comes to be ignored, I think this should be saved for stations with a 'serious' gap like Hoburn. I've noticed the platforms on the Heathrow branch tend to be too high for the picc trains. It would be quite easy to trip over when getting off the train if you don't look. This may be why there's the "Mind the Gap" message. As for the bad platform height, I can only presume it's because the stations up to Hounslow West used to be served by nice, big trains instead of the puny ones today. ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2006 18:09:16 GMT
spoke to a picc driver who told me there were some problems with it (to say the least) and it interfered with the train radio or something! also that even when it is working there are all kinds of problems, like telling foreigners at heathrow the next station is bounds greeen so they get off and meaning they can only display heathrow t4 on the front. (not sure how this works as i've only ever driven stock with the conventional blind). i also use the picc most days and have only heard the new DVA once! sorry, this has probably all been discussed in the other thread, but im in a hurry. feel free to delete/move it. ;D The main problem we have had on the Picc with the new DVA is a lack of training.None of the trains that I have driven with the new software have had any issues with the train radio. The "T4 problem" is related to the wrong code being entered into the display unit. As I said, very little or no training was given, so it all came down to guesswork at first when setting the train up. A few days after the first trains were running a sheet was produced with instructions on it, but I doubt that everyone received a copy. Finally, there aren't that many trains out there that have been activatd yet. When I bokked on today at NFDs there were only five units showing as being enabled and they can be mixed with non-enabled units. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2006 20:15:00 GMT
Heard the new DVA about two weeks ago now. The driver who changed over at Acton Town decided to treat us to it as we were about to leave! The problem with these is, as upinthesky said, they are a pain to configure, and this is from a passenger P.O.V! I've heard announcements such as "the next station is Hammersmith" at Acton Town, with the dot matrix displays showing "this train will additionally call at Chiswick Park, Turnham Green - etc", it seems to completely confuse the destination displays and I've even seen ones such as "This train will not be stopping at Heathrow Terminal 5 due to a security alert", when heading towards Arnos Grove!   What gets me even more is that I have only heard them in the rush hours, not when the people who really need them, tourists for example, are about! I value having peace and quiet on my two hour (minimum) journey, to and from work every morning, and like most of the people on the train at that time, I know exactly where I am, and don't need to be told!!  This system is flawed and completely pointless. In my opinion, it looks like its a half arsed job, which really needs to be completely taken off, or completely re-installed! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2006 12:26:25 GMT
This system is flawed and completely pointless. In my opinion, it looks like its a half arsed job, which really needs to be completely taken off, or completely re-installed! Thats a surprise that, considering it was being developed over the last several months, even years - with numerous requests for STNs to allow trials of the DVAs at odd times of the day. I travel on the Picc everyday, and haven't heard the DVA once yet. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2006 22:12:45 GMT
The new announcements have been nicknamed NORRIS by a few Picc T/Ops... Yep. That would be me. Noisy Obtrusive Repulsive Realtime Information System DOC ;D |
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Post by william on Nov 15, 2006 22:43:17 GMT
I also agree about the loss of the male voice in the DVA - it was one thing that made the Piccadilly unique. Besides, his Greek accent actually made the announcements among the most easily comprehended on the Underground. I agree with you wholeheartedly, his quality announcements has showed up the others for what they are. |
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Post by Tomcakes on Nov 18, 2006 14:12:18 GMT
Agree with Bill and TOK - the previous system had the capability to do the station announcements, why not use it?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2006 14:51:02 GMT
Finally, there aren't that many trains out there that have been activatd yet. When I bokked on today at NFDs there were only five units showing as being enabled and they can be mixed with non-enabled units. Aye, As i noticed a train today with the new dot matirx messages, but with the old voice! All very exciting! Agree with Bill and TOK - the previous system had the capability to do the station announcements, why not use it? Because it didnt have the feature to work automatically. It couldnt announce where the train terminated either. To have the old system talking, the train op had to punch in the codes all the time. A tad pointless if you ask me. I am all for a automated system, however i think they have tried to do it on the cheap and intergrate it with something that is already there, and it hasnt really worked. |
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Ben
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Post by Ben on Nov 18, 2006 17:45:23 GMT
Without wanting to go off topic, the male voice was a lot clearer. Why has LUL gone over to an almost completely female dominated announcement voice? And couldnt the new automated announcement software just play the old recordings?
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Post by Tomcakes on Nov 18, 2006 18:30:10 GMT
That's what I was thinking Ben - have something which triggers the relevant code.
As for the terminating thing, try code 301.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2006 19:19:48 GMT
The new announcements have been nicknamed NORRIS by a few Picc T/Ops... Yep. That would be me. Noisy Obtrusive Repulsive Realtime Information System DOC ;D That NORRIS said Baron's Court for Hammersmith today , lucky the man on the front switched the Baron's Court bit off, |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2006 20:03:01 GMT
As for the terminating thing, try code 301. From memeory that will tell you "This train terminates here, all change please" The software was not capable of saying "this train terminates at X." |
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Post by alstom1996 on Nov 18, 2006 22:55:32 GMT
Please tell me the voice isn't emma's.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2006 23:11:06 GMT
Please tell me the voice isn't emma's. Unfortunately it is Emma |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2006 9:30:50 GMT
I think it is much better |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2006 19:27:35 GMT
I personally am a fan of Emma, so I think this would be an improvement - having said that, I haven't been on the Picc for ages and have not heard this yet.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2006 20:58:14 GMT
i use to like the old anouncements they were the best but in true lu fashion its always out with the things that work and in with the new things that are rubbish and cheap
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2006 21:04:04 GMT
Agreed. Why they couldn't equip the existing DVA with an auto-mode is beyond me. On the Picc today drivers were merrily bashing away on the keypad to play the DVA at the stations, and I was reminded again as to how clear, audible and comprehensible they are.
if I were the person who recorded them I would feel slightly put out...
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2006 21:49:04 GMT
Emma! Are you sure!?  Unless she's put on a different voice for these ones, or I'm not hearing the same ones, it sounds like someone with a MUCH posher, and slightly deeper, voice than Emma!  To be honest, I'm getting more used to them now, although I still stand by the comment on how difficult they are!  However, I the guy who did the male ones, is much better!  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2006 19:34:03 GMT
i HATE the new dva , too loud , a pain in the rear to set up, frequently gives the wrong information and destination , ive had no end of punters complaining to me about it either being too loud or stopping them from relaxing during their journey , we MUST do what the customer wants at the end of the day cos they are our bread and butter and they pay our wages :-) :-)and
the only way to get rid of it is to turn the thing off , which i do each time i step into the cab
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2006 20:56:06 GMT
i HATE the new dva , too loud , a pain in the rear to set up, the only way to get rid of it is to turn the thing off , which i do each time i step into the cab There's one cool driver  I had a driver the other day who kept clicking the codes at every station ;D |
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Post by alstom1996 on Nov 20, 2006 23:46:15 GMT
Emma oh dear, personally i'd like to see Lu use more of Celia, seeing as she is the only nice voice left on the underground. Emma is Imo a sonia, she gets on my nerves constantly, especially in c stock and d refurbs, she is so loud and annoying and she just sounds so correct all the time. She also replaced Janet Mayo , who sounded much better on the 1992, she was so fast and efficient, even if she did say network southeast! I might have to start a petition, bring back Celia for the newer trains! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2006 0:53:47 GMT
i think we should call her anita
another irritating train announcer
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Post by william on Nov 21, 2006 9:01:34 GMT
i think we should call her anita another irritating train announcer Seconded. What surprises me however, is that some people here have admitted they actually like the sound of them. |
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Post by Tomcakes on Nov 21, 2006 18:06:11 GMT
they pay our wages :-) :-) You normally hear that coming from the other side! |
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However, I the guy who did the male ones, is much better! 
