RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Survey confirms that passengers and commuters prefer not to hear unnecessary announcements

Virgin Airlines Thread----->https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13459.msg226550.msg#226550

Sounds like that needs to happen on the QR Network. Unnecessary manual voice announcements need to be reduced to only announcing delays emergencies etc....leaving only the automated announcements to do the rest. Guard interrupted announcements at each station is totally unnecessary.

^ The other exception is special events, I think it's fine for guards to announce special events in the vicinity of a station.

The automated announcements also need to be completely redone. Firstly, to reduce the waffle. Secondly, to include local information passengers might actually find useful.
Over time they've added more and more 'security' reminders that make everyone tune out, meanwhile the functional content of the announcements is straight out of 1979 even as the city and transport network have evolved around them.

The announcements that started before the comm games are excessive. There's no need to have Next Station is and 5 seconds later now arriving at if this is your station prepare to disembark then doors open and station name as well as guard saying which side is platform is.

Then there's the ridiculous sections like Dutton Park to Park Rd where the next station part is cut off before it says Park Rd by the now arriving.

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I think the worst part is how verbose the announcements are. Some of the ones about security just go on and on and on.

Something like "Please keep your personal belongings with you. If you see anything suspicious, contact staff or call 000" would be more than adequate, instead passengers are subject to a daily spiel between Milton and Roma Street which seems to last the entire trip.

Melbourne is a good model for on-board announcements - short and to the point.

^ +1

The bit I think could be discarded from the spiel is .... "If this is your stop prepare to disembark."

These words are preceded by ... "Now approaching Thingy station."  That should be sufficient motivation to get passengers up from their seats, preparing to depart the train.

The stopping pattern announcements are also ridiculous, and always have been.

Just copy Sydney, but keep our arrangement of only announcing it 2 minutes out and when it arrives, and not 50 times.  For instance:

"The train arriving on platform 2 goes to Brisbane City and Brisbane Domestic Airport.  This train stops at: all stations to Beenleigh, then Loganlea, then Altandi, then Park Road, then all stations to Central, then all stations to Brisbane Domestic Airport."

The audible timetables produce stupid results like this sometimes:

"The next Brisbane City and Brisbane Airport train will arrive on platform 2 in approximately 2 minutes, stopping at all stations to Beenleigh, running express to Altandi, stopping only at Loganlea, then running express to Park Road".  Why it decides to treat Loganlea and Altandi separately, who knows.

Lose the announcements during peak hour. Most commuters tune them out, with or without earphones.

Quote from: locojoe67 on October 28, 2019, 16:18:50 PM
Lose the announcements during peak hour. Most commuters tune them out, with or without earphones.

Definitely the guard announcements repeating the automated announcements. What a joke! This is 2019 not 1980.

Quote from: verbatim9 on October 28, 2019, 16:49:35 PM

Quote from: locojoe67 on October 28, 2019, 16:18:50 PM
Lose the announcements during peak hour. Most commuters tune them out, with or without earphones.

Definitely the guard announcements repeating the automated announcements. What a joke! This is 2019 not 1980.

Or when the guard cuts off the auto announcement to then provide the next station in an inaudible muffled and mumbled voice....

Quote from: Cleveland Line on October 28, 2019, 17:12:44 PM

Quote from: verbatim9 on October 28, 2019, 16:49:35 PM

Quote from: locojoe67 on October 28, 2019, 16:18:50 PM
Lose the announcements during peak hour. Most commuters tune them out, with or without earphones.

Definitely the guard announcements repeating the automated announcements. What a joke! This is 2019 not 1980.

Or when the guard cuts off the auto announcement to then provide the next station in an inaudible muffled and mumbled voice....

Yep guard's PA announcements are loud annoying mumble grumbles.

Or when the guard cuts off the auto announcement to announce the wrong station/wrong platform side.

I noticed the COVID announcements on the trains were originally done with a female voice. This was interesting and very effective, because while on the train as the announcement was playing people looked up in the carriage out of curiosity and seemingly, actviely listening.  In the last couple of weeks its been re-recorded to the same male voice that makes the regular stop announcements, which I reckon is less effective in this case.

Quote from: verbatim9 on August 30, 2019, 23:39:20 PM
Survey confirms that passengers and commuters prefer not to hear unnecessary announcements

Virgin Airlines Thread----->https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=13459.msg226550.msg#226550

Sounds like that needs to happen on the QR Network. Unnecessary manual voice announcements need to be reduced to only announcing delays emergencies etc....leaving only the automated announcements to do the rest. Guard interrupted announcements at each station is totally unnecessary.

Doubly so in peak hour. Left my earphones at home today and had to endure unnecessary auditory torment.

It's frustrating

Check out this ePetition. Click this link to open the E-Petition: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/Petition-Details?id=3856

This E-Petition closes on 8/5/2023

The public seem to becoming really frustrated with the archaic QR voice announcements.

Trams on the Gold Coast provide transfer information to a bus at key stations as well as the electric downtown city loop.

It's time QR invest in a new Dynamic internal PID with next generation voice over technology. This can improve the overall passenger experience.

The seperate guard announcements are very loud at times, distorted and hard to understand. This needs replacing with a modern next generation electronic voice over system, which can also be used at stations, including Roma Street, Central, Fortitude Valley and Bowen Hills.

Queensland Parliament E-Petition

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/Petition-Details?id=3856

QUEENSLAND RAIL ON-TRAIN ANNOUNCEMENTS TO INCLUDE BUS TRANSFERS

QuoteTO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
Queensland residents draw to the attention of the House the need for on-train, announcements of stations to include relevant bus services that can be easily transferred to. Currently Queensland Rail (South East Queensland) on-train announcements of stations include where to transfer from one train service to another (eg Northgate, Park Road, etc) but these do not include stations at which people can easily transfer to High Frequency bus services or even Busways. Similar on service announcements are currently being made on the Gold Coast, G-Link tram service. Under the TransLink branding, bus and rail services are meant to be integrated, yet simple things such as the provision of audio announcements (regarding transfers between forms of public transport) are not occurring.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House do all in its power to ensure that Queensland Rail adjust automated and in person (South East Queensland) on-train announcements of stations to include bus services at which people can easily transfer to High Frequency bus services or Busways.

To sign > https://apps.parliament.qld.gov.au/E-Petitions/home/sign?id=3856

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1624042874802241536

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I didn't know that BCC ran any buses to trains?   

Quote from: #Metro on February 11, 2023, 00:32:25 AMI didn't know that BCC ran any buses to trains?   

Ha ha ... 

Outside of Brisbane plenty of connections!  Even if it is low frequency connection bingo! 

It really is time that Brisbane was properly brought into SEQ.  One authority!

I am getting really sick of the fact that Brisbane is overserviced, much unnecessary mode duplication, and a lack of integration.
While the outer bus regions are underserviced.

Time for change.

Listening guys        ?

I don't support any more audio pollution on the light rail or on trains - in fact there should be much less. 

The only announcements people should need to hear in most scenarios are -

"the next station is (insert)"

"(insert) station" and

"this train terminates here, all passengers please leave the train". 

The rest is just annoying, intrusive and largely useless.

And no guard announcements to cut in randomly over the top of the more legible automatic announcement unless there is a disruption.  They don't need to justify their existence by making things worse.

Buses should also have audio announcements for the next stop as has been standard in many parts of the world for decades now.

Yes, the system needs a complete overhaul.

Get rid of the guard announcements unless there is a disruption or evacuation. Although next generation audio announcements can automatically announce onboard delays.

Shortened messaging but added messaging at transfer points.

Bus PIDs and audio next stop announcements are currently being tested on selected routes. The new bus PIDs and announcements are good from what I have experienced on the CBD loop. The trains need to upgrade to this system.

In addition, Roma Street, Central  (Anzac Sq) Valley and Bowen Hills need to change to next generation automated announcements.

Some of the existing announcements don't make a lot of sense. e.g. transfer to G-Link at Helensvale for Broadbeach, when Nerang + 745 is ~20 minutes faster.

I think the 745 may regain some of its lost patronage if people were aware of this.

I recently read the book Heading South by Tim Richards (a good read on travelling Australia by train) and he comments that Queensland has possibly the most excessive announcements in the country.

One of the worst is between Dutton Park and Park Road inbound when due to the short distance the announcement goes The next station is Park Road then immediately says Now arriving at Park Road etc etc.

Quote from: achiruel on February 11, 2023, 12:24:56 PMSome of the existing announcements don't make a lot of sense. e.g. transfer to G-Link at Helensvale for Broadbeach, when Nerang + 745 is ~20 minutes faster.

I think the 745 may regain some of its lost patronage if people were aware of this.

I think that's just a legibility thing. The announcements are for the benefit of those who aren't sure where they're going. You absolutely want to put those people on the tram instead of the 745.

That said, yes, QR should (get a big clipping around the ear to force them to) announce more bus connections. I'd still keep the tram as the preferred option on the GC though.

On another note, does anyone else find it confusing when the QR express announcement doesn't list stations   in chronological order?

I.e. "This is an XYZ train, running express from A to D, (pause) stopping only at B and C."

Instead of something like:
"This is an XYZ train, running express from A to B, C and D, then stopping all stations."

Quote from: 300LA on March 03, 2023, 09:03:43 AMOn another note, does anyone else find it confusing when the QR express announcement doesn't list stations   in chronological order?

I.e. "This is an XYZ train, running express from A to D, (pause) stopping only at B and C."

Instead of something like:
"This is an XYZ train, running express from A to B, C and D, then stopping all stations."

I personally would find the latter more confusing. I think the current announcement is fine.

I don't know, doing it chronologically could be more longwinded...

1) "This is a Brisbane City & Brisbane Airport train, running express from Beenleigh to Park Road, stopping only at Loganlea and Altandi."

2) "This is a Brisbane City & Brisbane Airport train, running express from Beenleigh to Loganlea, Loganlea to Altandi, Altandi to Park Road."

Just adapt the Sydney method of onboard announcements for stopping patterns.

1. This is a Brisbane City and Airport train, stopping at Coomera, Ormeau, Beenleigh, Loganlea, Altandi, Park Road then all stations to Brisbane City and Airport

2. This is a Nambour train, stopping at Fortitude Valley, Bowen Hills, Eagle Junction, Northgate, Petrie then all stations to Nambour.

Simple as that.

Quote from: Arnz on March 03, 2023, 14:21:55 PMJust adapt the Sydney method of onboard announcements for stopping patterns.

1. This is a Brisbane City and Airport train, stopping at Coomera, Ormeau, Beenleigh, Loganlea, Altandi, Park Road then all stations to Brisbane City and Airport

2. This is a Nambour train, stopping at Fortitude Valley, Bowen Hills, Eagle Junction, Northgate, Petrie then all stations to Nambour.

Simple as that.

So if you're on a Nambour train at Ipswich would it list all stations in order to central too?

Why do the stopping patterns need to be announced at all?

On departing Beenleigh:  "This is a Brisbane City and Brisbane Airport train.  The next station is Loganlea". 

No "If this is your station, prepared to disembark".  No "Mind the gap".  No guard announcements cutting in unless there is an absolute need.

Keep it simple and stop blasting noise at people.

I definitely support the less is better approach.

Station announcements wouldn't be needed at all if the digital PIDs displayed useful info rather than ads.

Do they still have that awful "passengers are reminded the door open button is located in the middle of the doors"?

Quote from: 300LA on March 03, 2023, 17:29:09 PMStation announcements wouldn't be needed at all if the digital PIDs displayed useful info rather than ads.

And how would the visually impaired get information?

Quote from: 300LA on March 03, 2023, 17:29:09 PMI definitely support the less is better approach.

Station announcements wouldn't be needed at all if the digital PIDs displayed useful info rather than ads.

Do they still have that awful "passengers are reminded the door open button is located in the middle of the doors"?

That was only introduced because some people are idiots and kept hitting the emergency buttons.

I think the "platform on the right hand/left hand side in the direction of travel" is important to keep. Almost think that should be automated and not read by the guard, although I understand that might be difficult when sometimes you can pull into a station on a different platform.

Quote from: achiruel on March 03, 2023, 17:58:10 PM

Quote from: 300LA on March 03, 2023, 17:29:09 PMStation announcements wouldn't be needed at all if the digital PIDs displayed useful info rather than ads.

And how would the visually impaired get information?

Going by the recent infrastructure "upgrades" people with disabilities don't use public transport.

Quote from: timh on March 03, 2023, 19:53:27 PMI think the "platform on the right hand/left hand side in the direction of travel" is important to keep. Almost think that should be automated and not read by the guard, although I understand that might be difficult when sometimes you can pull into a station on a different platform.

It can be automated for the 99% of the times when it is on the correct platform, and then for that 1% the gaurd can interject. Surely, however, the train announcements arent just based on schedule. Wouldnt the train know which track it is on?

Nope. It's also why the train doesn't know it's now on a running express pattern when it's changed mid trip and requires manual skipping.

Quote from: HappyTrainGuy on March 06, 2023, 15:34:41 PMNope. It's also why the train doesn't know it's now on a running express pattern when it's changed mid trip and requires manual skipping.

That seems a tad outdated  ! What tells the train to play each announcement?

It's all linked to the AWS magnets isn't it?