I think it's already been mentioned here that the 4/4H/4M services are the latest to have the on-board audio-visual next stop announcements.
A regular on my Facebook page has commented that apparently according to a Walsall driver, this is going to be rolled out to all NX buses. But not on the older P, R,S,T or V Reg buses because "most of these are due to be scrapped".
Any idea who's provided the voice for the announcements on the 4? Or who will do all the announcements on all the other routes at other garages?
Also, I wonder if all the new buses being delivered later this year will have this technology installed from the off?
I suppose it would give use to the blank TV screens on the Gemini's and Tridents....
Quote from: Nathan on January 29, 2015, 07:52:33 PM
I suppose it would give use to the blank TV screens on the Gemini's and Tridents....
@Nathan *though half of the screens on BC Tridents have been filled in with the 'floor' - loool.
- i'm not joking, btw. Upon closer inspection, it is the same 'material' as the floor... Certainly the same pattern. ;)
When did the 4 get them
Quote from: RR378 on February 10, 2015, 08:12:05 AM
When did the 4 get them
I did a simple look back through (page 84, 83, 82, 81, finally 80) in Walsall Garage thread and I found it on page 80. Here it is. http://wmbusphotos.com/forum/index.php?topic=53.msg127812#msg127812 Assuming the date of that post was the day of the announcements being installed.
Seems if one MP gets his way, Audio Announcements will be required on all buses.
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014-15/busesaudioannouncements.html
I know it's something that's been mentioned in a few other threads before, but this seems a logical place to put this.
Heard the next stop thing on the X51 this morning mention "Walsall Road, Booths Farm Road", despite the bus not stopping there, and it got me thinking.
Why has it even been recorded? There must have been someone somewhere that a) put it on a list to be recorded; b) attached that recording to a geographical location so the system picks it up when the bus is sailing past; and c) set it up so that it only announces the stop in one direction only.
Curious
Excellent news if they are required providing they match up with bus stop names and timetable information!
There are different standards of audio information, not just next stop names but places of interest even where you are leaving ticket zones. In later case Arriva who give that bit extra!
The audio on service 1 (Tettenhall to Dudley) needs updating with regard to Wolverhampton Coty Centre stops ie it goes silent outside the Grand Theatre and Crown Court vut still tells you "Market Street, Tower Street".
It's like the announcements on the 1, when I last used it, disliked the Fighting Cocks
We should cater for all the immigrants to with multi language announcements
Like job centre forget that one benefits office off licence
But, if I am honest, announcements get you down after a while. I can see why they are useful, but for example In London, you never get any peace from them, Bus or Tube.
Then I was in Blackpool over the weekend and now you get "Please press the STOP button if you require (eg:) Pleasure Beach" I asked a conductor about it and he said some high official had been on a tram and had complained that he didn't realise that he has to press the stop button to get off.
Even on Virgin Trains you go to the toilet and get an announcement telling you everything (including some stupid things) that you shouldn't put down the toilet.
Where will it all end.
Quote from: karl724223 on July 21, 2016, 02:46:11 PM
We should cater for all the immigrants to with multi language announcements
Like job centre forget that one benefits office off licence
Please nooooooooooooooo !
You can just imagine, people would complain because there language wasn't included!
There isn't enough distance between stops to give announcements in 20 different languages.
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on July 21, 2016, 02:53:50 PM
Please nooooooooooooooo !
You can just imagine, people would complain because there language wasn't included!
There isn't enough distance between stops to give announcements in 20 different languages.
ok we will have all announcements in thick Black Country dialect
Quote from: karl724223 on July 21, 2016, 03:05:36 PM
ok we will have all announcements in thick Black Country dialect
I think we should abandon the audio announcements with the hope that everybody that boards the bus knows how to read.
Quote from: GeminiFan1991 on July 21, 2016, 03:59:09 PM
I think we should abandon the audio announcements with the hope that everybody that boards the bus knows how to read.
i agree learn the guide dog how to read to
You soon "blank out" next stop announcements I only tend to notice them on the 900 when they are only operating on the other deck! Suggest you travel from West Ruislip to Epping on the Central Line you won't even notice it by Shepherds Bush!
Quote from: GeminiFan1991 on July 21, 2016, 03:59:09 PM
I think we should abandon the audio announcements with the hope that everybody that boards the bus knows how to read.
How insulting to people with impaired eyesight
Quote from: Tony on July 21, 2016, 06:01:31 PM
How insulting to people with impaired eyesight
I meant it as a tongue in cheek comment following on from previous comments about multi language announcements.
I find invariably with these types of announcements you won't please everyone.
Quote from: JoNi on July 21, 2016, 10:36:33 AM
Excellent news if they are required providing they match up with bus stop names and timetable information!
There are different standards of audio information, not just next stop names but places of interest even where you are leaving ticket zones. In later case Arriva who give that bit extra!
I find that with some stops on the 900/957 between Hay Mills and Sheldon; in particular my stop in the morning, it is announced on-bus as 'Coventry Road, Forest Road', yet the stop flag and printed information refer to it as Kathleen Road, while the real-time display shows 'Old Bill And Bull'!
I think it would also be helpful if audio announcements did have additional information at certain interchanges, say for example at the Swan Island stops it could announce 'change here for Outer Circle buses', or even at the Kings Road stop towards city, have an additional announcement saying "change here for buses to Small Heath".
I was on a train the other week where the announcements were in both English and a second language.
Trust me to end up with a class 175
Was it stopping at LlanfairPG?
Quote from: JoNi on July 21, 2016, 05:35:32 PM
You soon "blank out" next stop announcements I only tend to notice them on the 900 when they are only operating on the other deck! Suggest you travel from West Ruislip to Epping on the Central Line you won't even notice it by Shepherds Bush!
I agree. I'm able to completely switch off to the voice of Phil Upton on my local routes the 22 / 23 in much the same way that I stopped listening to my wife several years ago. It just becomes background noise. I do think it's helpful though both to people with impaired vision and those unfamiliar with an area or route.
Quote from: Mike K on July 21, 2016, 11:34:12 PM
I agree. I'm able to completely switch off to the voice of Phil Upton on my local routes the 22 / 23 in much the same way that I stopped listening to my wife several years ago. It just becomes background noise. I do think it's helpful though both to people with impaired vision and those unfamiliar with an area or route.
You never cease to amaze me with your comments !
The announcements are good although personally, I tend to my ears preoccupied with headphones so its not something I register.
The driver should have settings on the voice announcement a bit like a sat nav where he can set the voice to a certain person
Like Lenny Henry in dudlay or say the noddy holder in Wolverhampton
Or maybe the queen
Or say sooty and sweep
Quote from: Tony on July 21, 2016, 06:01:31 PM
How insulting to people with impaired eyesight
The best thing is that us visually impaired make more of an effort to see and know where we're going than alot of people who appear to not have the same problem.
I have to say that my favourite audio announcements are First Bristols, NX Platinum and the 1. I'll let you guess the order. The lady on the 1 doesn't bother me, only when I can recite the route stop by stop will I definitely be a vegetable.
Trent Barton add some variety. 'The next stop is..', 'We are now approaching...', 'Alight here for..'.
The audience announcements on the 1 don't say the fighting Cocks
Quote from: Stuharris 6360 on July 21, 2016, 02:51:35 PM
But, if I am honest, announcements get you down after a while. I can see why they are useful, but for example In London, you never get any peace from them, Bus or Tube.
Then I was in Blackpool over the weekend and now you get "Please press the STOP button if you require (eg:) Pleasure Beach" I asked a conductor about it and he said some high official had been on a tram and had complained that he didn't realise that he has to press the stop button to get off.
Even on Virgin Trains you go to the toilet and get an announcement telling you everything (including some stupid things) that you shouldn't put down the toilet.
Where will it all end.
;
and not only on Virgin.
;
I think it is highly unwise to add "humurous" bits to these kind of announcements.
;
Even worse are the no cycling posters on railway station with the "humorous" addition of hoverboards - anyone prosecuted under the byelaws for cycling (I know that's highly unlikely) could easily say that they assumed the whole poster was a joke.
Quote from: mikestone on July 22, 2016, 11:20:47 AM
;
and not only on Virgin.
;
I think it is highly unwise to add "humurous" bits to these kind of announcements.
;
Even worse are the no cycling posters on railway station with the "humorous" addition of hoverboards - anyone prosecuted under the byelaws for cycling (I know that's highly unlikely) could easily say that they assumed the whole poster was a joke.
Why? Surely people know that you wouldn't throw 'your ex's sweater' down a train toilet!
Quote from: Chris on July 22, 2016, 09:12:22 AM
The audience announcements on the 1 don't say the fighting Cocks
Perhaps, when she was recording it, Kerry could not stop laughing!
I still think they should use Brian Blessed for the announcements, nobody would miss their stop then! :P
WALSALL BUS STATION !!!!!!!!!
A bit of rusty lee
If the voice was Rachael Stirling or Dervla Kirwan, I would never get off the bus.