On train announcements, too long, too often, too loud.

Mark Gleeson · 18-07-2011, 06:43

For decades passengers have complained of not being able to hear the announcements, the rule book requires a certain volume level to meet the current standards.

We completely agree that the length of announcements are excessive and provides no additional value. The main complaint is the sheer length and the unnecessary junk thrown in, the pointless, Ladies and gentlemen Iarnród Éireann welcomes you on board.... should be deleted immediately. We have discussed this with Irish Rail and strangely found a manager who agreed. However there are requirements which must be met

There is a legal obligation to provide the announcements in Irish.

There is a very complex series of rules which dictate the announcements. Generally falls under section 13 of the UK RVAR rules (all Irish trains are designed to meet UK regulations so they can be used in Northern Ireland) or the new EU Persons of Reduced Mobility TSI.

Kilocharlie · 18-07-2011, 08:14

It is normal on commuter and suburban services, to Portlaoise, Athlone etc, to have abbreviated announcements only announcing the next stop and the actual stop as the train arrives. There is the usual non-smoking annoucement as well.

As for the welcome messages, these often start playing before the train has actually stopped so that boarding passengers will even hear it!

KSW · 18-07-2011, 08:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

For decades passengers have complained of not being able to hear the announcements, the rule book requires a certain volume level to meet the current standards.

We completely agree that the length of announcements are excessive and provides no additional value. The main complaint is the sheer length and the unnecessary junk thrown in, the pointless, Ladies and gentlemen Iarnród Éireann welcomes you on board.... should be deleted immediately. We have discussed this with Irish Rail and strangely found a manager who agreed. However there are requirements which must be met

There is a legal obligation to provide the announcements in Irish.

There is a very complex series of rules which dictate the announcements. Generally falls under section 13 of the UK RVAR rules (all Irish trains are designed to meet UK regulations so they can be used in Northern Ireland) or the new EU Persons of Reduced Mobility TSI.

I've traveled 3 times from gorey to dublin on the intercity trains and all three tims the train was packed arriving into gorey. I pity the passengers from Arklow onwards especially wicklow.Speaking of the onboard announcements - what announcements all I read is 'This is coach A/b/c' Or the driver comes on and says as quickly as possible next station arklow all the way to dublin.I can understand russian and even the train driver spoke faster than them.

The old announcements were better . The next station is Bray.Passengers leaving the train at Bray please mind the gap. The announcements on the 28k which i heard a long time ago were somewhat faster but so much clearer.

Mark Gleeson · 18-07-2011, 09:02

There is a software bug which results in automatic announcements not working between Gorey and Dublin on most trains but it does works the other way around.

Its very easy to complain but the announcements are tailored to ensure they are understandable by the majority. So the announcements should be at a slow pace using clear language.

I'm doing some work with disability groups at the moment and many of the things complained about are of serious benefit to a large portion of the population with some form of disability.

James Howard · 18-07-2011, 12:44

There is also a bug on down Longford commuter trains that trips at the points just before Edgeworthstown and announces it as Longford. This has been happening for at least the last seven years.

I find these announcements to be a right pain but they are vital for people with poor vision. I still wouldn't like to be dependent on them because they don't work particularly well. It is odd that the visual displays which are equally important for people with poor hearing are so inconsistently functional. One simple thing that Irish Rail could do to help matters would be to put up about four times as many station signs so that they were visible from any window of the train.

Of course, it would be more practically useful and less annoying to everyone if the Irish language version wasn't a legal requirement. I noticed a couple of weeks ago that the emergency instructions on 22ks are written in only one language. Some doors have Irish and some have English. These signs must be just decorations because if they had any real impact on safety having them in Irish only would be a seriously dangerous thing to do given the level of understanding 80% of the population (including me) has.

Mark Gleeson · 18-07-2011, 13:20

29k or ICR? we can pass that on.

The emergency notices are fairly new, so anything is better than nothing. The signs are heavily graphically driven so do make limited sense if you can't read.

If we can find a lack of Irish signs we can use that as reason to fix any other issue in the system.

For the record we did successfully get the Dublin Cork announcements changed about 4 years back if you think now is bad it was much worse back then

The actual form of words use varies, the ICR fleet use a shortened version when the train is in commuter mode as distinct from intercity. Again the rules stipulate a different form of words and frequency of announcements based on the journey time between stations.

m3parkway · 18-07-2011, 17:17

Have automated announcements or interior LED signs ever been used in the 2800 class.

James Howard · 18-07-2011, 19:35

The Longford at Edgeworthstown problem is on 29ks. I've not noticed it on 22ks as I usually get the 1805. It dates back to at least when the 1805 service started and I think it was happening even before that although I used to rarely use 29ks going down as the old Sligo Intercity was a lot more comfortable.

KSW · 18-07-2011, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3parkway

Have automated announcements or interior LED signs ever been used in the 2800 class.

Yes they have worked.the LED display colour was orange.the announcements were faster but so much clearer.pity they dont work for some reason.

18-07-2011, 06:43	#1
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	For decades passengers have complained of not being able to hear the announcements, the rule book requires a certain volume level to meet the current standards. We completely agree that the length of announcements are excessive and provides no additional value. The main complaint is the sheer length and the unnecessary junk thrown in, the pointless, Ladies and gentlemen Iarnród Éireann welcomes you on board.... should be deleted immediately. We have discussed this with Irish Rail and strangely found a manager who agreed. However there are requirements which must be met There is a legal obligation to provide the announcements in Irish. There is a very complex series of rules which dictate the announcements. Generally falls under section 13 of the UK RVAR rules (all Irish trains are designed to meet UK regulations so they can be used in Northern Ireland) or the new EU Persons of Reduced Mobility TSI. __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

18-07-2011, 09:02	#4
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	There is a software bug which results in automatic announcements not working between Gorey and Dublin on most trains but it does works the other way around. Its very easy to complain but the announcements are tailored to ensure they are understandable by the majority. So the announcements should be at a slow pace using clear language. I'm doing some work with disability groups at the moment and many of the things complained about are of serious benefit to a large portion of the population with some form of disability. __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 18-07-2011 at 09:05.

18-07-2011, 13:20	#6
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	29k or ICR? we can pass that on. The emergency notices are fairly new, so anything is better than nothing. The signs are heavily graphically driven so do make limited sense if you can't read. If we can find a lack of Irish signs we can use that as reason to fix any other issue in the system. For the record we did successfully get the Dublin Cork announcements changed about 4 years back if you think now is bad it was much worse back then The actual form of words use varies, the ICR fleet use a shortened version when the train is in commuter mode as distinct from intercity. Again the rules stipulate a different form of words and frequency of announcements based on the journey time between stations. __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know Last edited by Mark Gleeson : 18-07-2011 at 17:33.

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18-07-2011, 08:14	#2
Kilocharlie Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 395	It is normal on commuter and suburban services, to Portlaoise, Athlone etc, to have abbreviated announcements only announcing the next stop and the actual stop as the train arrives. There is the usual non-smoking annoucement as well. As for the welcome messages, these often start playing before the train has actually stopped so that boarding passengers will even hear it!

18-07-2011, 12:44	#5
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	There is also a bug on down Longford commuter trains that trips at the points just before Edgeworthstown and announces it as Longford. This has been happening for at least the last seven years. I find these announcements to be a right pain but they are vital for people with poor vision. I still wouldn't like to be dependent on them because they don't work particularly well. It is odd that the visual displays which are equally important for people with poor hearing are so inconsistently functional. One simple thing that Irish Rail could do to help matters would be to put up about four times as many station signs so that they were visible from any window of the train. Of course, it would be more practically useful and less annoying to everyone if the Irish language version wasn't a legal requirement. I noticed a couple of weeks ago that the emergency instructions on 22ks are written in only one language. Some doors have Irish and some have English. These signs must be just decorations because if they had any real impact on safety having them in Irish only would be a seriously dangerous thing to do given the level of understanding 80% of the population (including me) has.

18-07-2011, 17:17	#7
m3parkway New to the board Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 25	Have automated announcements or interior LED signs ever been used in the 2800 class.

18-07-2011, 19:35	#8
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	The Longford at Edgeworthstown problem is on 29ks. I've not noticed it on 22ks as I usually get the 1805. It dates back to at least when the 1805 service started and I think it was happening even before that although I used to rarely use 29ks going down as the old Sligo Intercity was a lot more comfortable.