14.03.13
Train announcements ‘ruining journeys’ – Baker
Rail minister Norman Baker has accused operators of letting on-board announcements get out of control, saying they are becoming “more and more verbose” and that they “add nothing to the journey at all”.
He said: “We don’t need to be told we are in a quiet carriage, that is why we went there in the first place.
“I don’t know why people are told to read the safety cards, I have never seen a passenger read one.
“Passengers are told they are on a non-smoking train, which seems pointless as all trains in Britain are non-smoking.”
He spoke of a Javelin journey from London to Kent being “ruined by a barrage of announcements”.
But an ATOC spokesman said: “Passengers want concise and relevant announcements, such as what the next station is so that they get off at the right stop.
“A significant majority tell Passenger Focus, the independent rail watchdog, that they’re satisfied with the information they get on trains and at stations. Train companies know there’s always a balance to strike – they need to keep passengers informed without irritating them with too many announcements.”
David Sidebottom of Passenger Focus added: “This repetitive information may be annoying to some passengers, but it is nevertheless vital for others.”
(Image of Norman Baker courtesy Liberal Democrats / Dave Radcliffe)
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