Heathrow Connect is one of the worst talking trains with numerous
repetitive and pointless announcements like 'CCTV is used aboard this
train.' So what? This didn't stop a hoodie attempting to knife a
member of staff a few months ago. Now we have talking buses - like the
Transdev's H98. This not only announces the next bus stop, but also
stupid requests such as don't forget to take all your belongings with
you, etc. Its almost as bad as the FGW buses stating the obvious such
as 'the doors are now opening/closing.' It makes me want to turn my
Walkman up really loud to stop hearing these inane and nanny state
announcements. CJB.

On Dec 17, 3:47 pm, CJB wrote:
Heathrow Connect is one of the worst talking trains with numerous
repetitive and pointless announcements like 'CCTV is used aboard this
train.' So what? This didn't stop a hoodie attempting to knife a
member of staff a few months ago. Now we have talking buses - like the
Transdev's H98. This not only announces the next bus stop, but also
stupid requests such as don't forget to take all your belongings with
you, etc. Its almost as bad as the FGW buses stating the obvious such
as 'the doors are now opening/closing.' It makes me want to turn my
Walkman up really loud to stop hearing these inane and nanny state
announcements. CJB.

I got really annoyed by the talking bus... but then I thought about it
a bit, and unwound. It's not as if a London bus is a haven of
quietness for meditative reflection, it's really useful to know what
bus stop you're coming to when you don't know the route (I think
that's my major problem with London Transport, actually) and works
particularly well with tfl.gov.uk's routefinder. And that's with me
being reasonably well sighted. Must be a thousand times better for the
visually impaired.

Could do with fewer 'please remember to take your wotsits'
announcements, though.

R

I'm absolutely sick of them all. I can't imagine being a commuter on
the Heathrow Connect, how awful it must be. It's literally an
announcement per minute.
I'm all for more information, but could this please be visual
information only. That way it doesn't have to disturb all the
passengers. The few people for who this doesn't suffice should seek
the help from the train assistant or bus driver.

On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:26:20 -0800 (PST), sweek
wrote:

The few people for who this doesn't suffice should seek
the help from the train assistant or bus driver.

This would be fine if bus drivers actually, in general, did help.
Given that they don't use the PA now even on buses where it is
provided, I wouldn't have a lot of confidence in that.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:12:53 -0800 (PST), Rupert Goodwins
wrote:

I got really annoyed by the talking bus... but then I thought about it
a bit, and unwound. It's not as if a London bus is a haven of
quietness for meditative reflection, it's really useful to know what
bus stop you're coming to when you don't know the route (I think
that's my major problem with London Transport, actually) and works
particularly well with tfl.gov.uk's routefinder. And that's with me
being reasonably well sighted. Must be a thousand times better for the
visually impaired.

And for those who can't see the displays that are also being installed
but want to know where they are (but aren't familiar enough with the
area to do that by looking out of the window).

These kind of things are about the best thing you can do to help those
who don't know the area use buses.

Could do with fewer 'please remember to take your wotsits'
announcements, though.

The version I've seen (on the 73 and 168) doesn't have any such
announcements - its vocabulary is just a list of stops, the number and
the destination. I do hope the rolled-out version doesn't have all
the rubbish added.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

On 17 Dec, 17:31, (Neil Williams)
wrote:
The version I've seen (on the 73 and 168) doesn't have any such
announcements - its vocabulary is just a list of stops, the number and
the destination. I do hope the rolled-out version doesn't have all
the rubbish added.

I've not heard any nagging either (on the 123).

U

--
http://londonconnections.blogspot.com/
A blog about transport projects in London

On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:13:03 -0800 (PST), Mr Thant
wrote:

On 17 Dec, 17:31, (Neil Williams)
wrote:
The version I've seen (on the 73 and 168) doesn't have any such
announcements - its vocabulary is just a list of stops, the number and
the destination. I do hope the rolled-out version doesn't have all
the rubbish added.

I've not heard any nagging either (on the 123).

ISTR that the 168 has actually had all (1 word of) the spurious
vocabulary removed, not that it had a lot in the first place. The
original version said "Route...168 To... Hampstead Heath" (I rarely
use it in t'other direction) but the "Route" was soon dropped,
presumably as pointless and annoying.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:55:32 GMT, (Neil
Williams) wrote:

ISTR that the 168 has actually had all (1 word of) the spurious
vocabulary removed, not that it had a lot in the first place. The
original version said "Route...168 To... Hampstead Heath" (I rarely
use it in t'other direction) but the "Route" was soon dropped,
presumably as pointless and annoying.

....Can I give a similar request to all drivers and platform staff on
the sub-surface LUL lines that 10 mentions of minding the doors every
time there is a train there are not necessary, and that it would be
enough to provide information, once only, on where it was going
instead? The door bleeper signifies to a sufficient extent to get out
of the way, and anyone who is for whatever reason deliberately
obstructing a door isn't likely to move just because the generic
announcement has been made. Again, and again, and again.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:13:03 -0800 (PST), Mr Thant
wrote:

On 17 Dec, 17:31, (Neil Williams)
wrote:
The version I've seen (on the 73 and 168) doesn't have any such
announcements - its vocabulary is just a list of stops, the number and
the destination. I do hope the rolled-out version doesn't have all
the rubbish added.

I've not heard any nagging either (on the 123).

Oh a fellow 123 user.

I have heard a range of announcements but only used sparingly. I know
some people have been on buses where it seems a never ending stream of
messages was allowed to run. I might not have the exact text correct
below but they give the right flavour.

The helpful extra messages on the 123 have been :-

"Passengers cannot alight at the next stop as the stop is closed" - this
was correct as the stop was oos due to roadworks.

"Please move right down inside the bus" - this at a stop where the bus
is often overloaded.

"There are seats available on the upper deck" - played after the message
just above as an encouragement for people to make space.

"The Victoria Line service is suspended. Please choose an alternative
route" - the line was suspended so this was good real time information.
I was quite shocked to see a Tube reference on a bus.

"Please do not play your music loudly" - this was out of context as the
bus was silent at the time!

"This bus is now being diverted" - used when the bus route was subject
to a long diversion due to a traffic accident.

I actually don't have an issue with these messages being used in
context. They are helpful in terms of showing the driver is "managing"
his bus or to help passengers cope with disruption on the transport
system.

I understand why people are fed up with lots of noise but I think the
I-Bus concept is very good and will be a genuine aid to people given
that the stop names tie up directly with names on bus stop flags and in
the TfL Journey Planner. Once people can tie the three elements
together to help them get about London then I think it will be seen as a
boon. Now if only it was a bit more reliable - that's the problem with
being the first garage (Tottenham) to trial the system.

--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!

The version I've seen (on the 73 and 168) doesn't have any such
announcements - its vocabulary is just a list of stops, the number and
the destination. I do hope the rolled-out version doesn't have all
the rubbish added.


For the most part the announcements are good, and helpful to find a
destination, and I'm all in favour of it. What bugs me is the "73
pause to pause Victoria" which is unnecessary (I wouldn't have got
on if I didn't think it was a 73, and neither would a partially
sighted person, surely), and also, shockingly badly done with the huge
pauses. If it was one flowing statement, then it would be far less
annoying.

It's still far better than when someone presses the stop button, as
well as the bing and the Stopping sign lighting up, getting "BUS
stopping at NEXT bus stop, please stand well clear OF doors".
Completely superfluous, and sounds as if it's putting together the
statement from all the separate words in its system rather than having
one phrase.