Automated on-train announcements, as opposed to on-train announcements made by a train conductor or a train driver, are pre-prepared audio recordings which are used to provide important travel information to passengers.[1]
The information contained in automated on-train announcements often include the following:
- Name of the next station
- Direction of travel
- Destination of train
- Interchange information
- The side the doors will open on
- General warnings and reminders, for example 'mind the gap'
Purpose
editAutomated on-train announcements are particularly useful for visually impaired passengers.[2] Automated announcements were introduced to the Moscow Metro in 1972, and following the suggestions of the All-Russian Society of the Blind, upcoming stations are announced by a male voice on inbound trains towards the city centre (and on clockwise Circle line trains), and by a female voice on outbound trains towards the suburbs (and on anti-clockwise Circle line trains).[2] Automated announcements are also likely to be made in the official languages of the area of the train service, and occasionally certain foreign languages to cater to tourists. For example, on-train announcements in Taipei Metro are made in the three official languages of Taiwan (Mandarin, Taiwanese and Hakka) as well as in English, Japanese and Korean.[3]
Application
editHong Kong
editMTR
editMost on-train announcements are automated, though train drivers also have the power to override the automated announcements and make manual ones. Notably, a train driver frustrated with a commuter who was fast asleep made manual announcements in an attempt to wake the passenger up.[4]
Announcements are always made in Cantonese, Mandarin and English, and in that order (other than on Light Rail services where Mandarin is omitted). A different set of automated announcements is used on the Disneyland Resort line.[5]
| Announcement type | Script/Template |
|---|---|
| Doors closing | Cantonese: 請勿靠近車門。 Mandarin Chinese: 请不要靠近车门。 English: Please stand back from the doors. |
| Next station | Cantonese: 下一站，(station name in Cantonese)。 Mandarin Chinese: 下一站，(station name in Mandarin)。 English: Next station, (station name in English). |
| Interchange information 1 | Cantonese: 乘客可以轉乘 (lines)。 Mandarin Chinese: 乘客可以换乘 (lines)。 English: Interchange station for the (lines). |
| Interchange information 2 | Cantonese: 乘客可以轉乘 (lines) 往 (destination) （或康城）（沿途各站）（或者換乘）（line 2）（或 line 3)。 Mandarin Chinese: 乘客可以换乘 (lines) 前往 (destination) （或康城）（沿途各站）（或是/或者换乘）（line 2）（或 line 3)。 English: Interchange station for the (line 1) towards (destination) (or LOHAS Park/line 2) (and line 3) |
| Interchange information (Tsim Sha Tsui station) | Cantonese: 此站連接尖東站及屯馬綫。 Mandarin Chinese: 此站连接尖东站和屯马线。 English: Connecting station for East Tsim Sha Tsui Station and the Tuen Ma Line. |
| Interchange information (East Tsim Sha Tsui station) | Cantonese: 此站連接尖沙咀站及荃灣綫。 Mandarin Chinese: 此站连接尖沙咀站和荃湾线。 English: Connecting station for Tsim Sha Tsui Station and the Tsuen Wan Line. |
| Interchange information (Austin and Kowloon stations) | Cantonese: 此站連接香港西九龍站及高速鐵路。 Mandarin Chinese: 此站连接香港西九龙站和高速铁路。 English: Connecting station for Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and the High Speed Rail. |
| Door side | Cantonese: 左/右邊嘅車門將會打開。 Mandarin Chinese: 左/右边的车门将会打开。 English: Doors will open on the left/right. |
| End of the line | Cantonese: (station)，呢個係（line）嘅尾站。多謝乘搭港鐵。 Mandarin Chinese: (station)，这是（line）的终点站。谢谢乘搭港铁。 English: (station), end of the (line). Thank you for travelling on the MTR. |
| Everyone out | Cantonese: 請所有乘客落車。 Mandarin Chinese: 请所有乘客下车。 English: Please exit from the train. |
| Mind the gap | Cantonese: 請小心月台空隙。 Mandarin Chinese: 请小心月台的空隙。 English: Please mind the gap. |
| Courtesy | Cantonese: 請讓座予長者或有需要人士，多謝合作。 Mandarin Chinese: 让座给长者或有需要的人，谢谢合作。 English: Please offer your seat to the elderly or those in need. Thank you. |
| Disneyland Resort line: Departing Sunny Bay station | Cantonese: 歡迎乘搭迪士尼綫。 Mandarin Chinese: 欢迎乘搭迪士尼线。 English: Welcome to the Disneyland Resort Line. (Music) Cantonese: 我哋即將帶你進入香港迪士尼樂園嘅奇妙世界。 Mandarin Chinese: 我们即将带你进入香港迪士尼乐园的奇妙世界。 English: We will soon arrive at the magical world of Hong Kong Disneyland. |
| Disneyland Resort line: Arriving at Disneyland Resort station | Cantonese: 迪士尼站，祝大家有奇妙嘅一天。 Mandarin Chinese: 迪士尼站，祝大家有奇妙的一天。 English: Disneyland Resort Station, have a magical day! (Music) |
| Disneyland Resort line: Leaving Disneyland Resort station | (Music) Cantonese: 歡迎乘搭迪士尼綫。 Mandarin Chinese: 欢迎乘搭迪士尼线。 English: Welcome to the Disneyland Resort Line. (Music) Cantonese: 我哋即將帶你返去現代化嘅香港。 Mandarin Chinese: 我们即将带你回到现代化的香港。 English: We now bring you back to the modern city of Hong Kong. |
| Disneyland Resort line: Arriving at Sunny Bay station | (Music) Cantonese: 欣澳，乘客可以喺呢個充滿時代感嘅車站轉乘東涌綫。 Mandarin Chinese: 欣澳，乘客可以在这个充满时代感的车站换乘东涌线。 English: Sunny Bay, the futuristic gateway to the Tung Chung Line and modern Hong Kong. Cantonese: 多謝乘搭迪士尼綫。 Mandarin Chinese: 谢谢乘搭迪士尼线。 English: Thank you for travelling on the Disneyland Resort Line. |
Macao
editMacao Light Rapid Transit
editAnnouncements are always made in Cantonese, Portuguese, Mandarin and English, and in that order.
| Announcement type | Script/Template |
|---|---|
| Terminus | Cantonese: 本列車終點站： Portuguese: O destino deste comboio é: Mandarin Chinese: 本列车终点站： English: This train's destination is: |
| Doors closing | Cantonese: 車門即將關閉。 Portuguese: As portas vão fechar. Mandarin Chinese: 车门即将关闭。 English: Doors are closing. |
| Next station | Cantonese: 即將到達：(station) Portuguese: Estamos a chegar a/ao/á (station). Mandarin Chinese: 即将到达：(station) English: We are arriving at (station). |
| Interchange information | Cantonese: 協和醫院站可轉乘氹仔線。 Portuguese: Estacão Hospital Union. Correspondência da Linha da Taipa. Mandarin Chinese: 协和医院站可转乘氹仔线。 English: Union Hospital. Interchange station of Taipa line. |
| At station | Cantonese: 列車到達：(station) Portuguese: Estamos em/no/na (station). Mandarin Chinese: 列车到达：(station) English: This is (station). |
| Door side | Cantonese: 左邊/右邊車門將會打開。 Portuguese: As portas abrem-se do lado esquerdo/direito. Mandarin Chinese: 左边/右边车门将会打开。 English: Doors open on the left/right. |
| Arriving at terminus | Cantonese: 下一站：終點站，請所有乘客落車。 Portuguese: A próxima estação é a estação terminal. Por favor, abandone o comboio. Mandarin Chinese: 下一站：终点站，请所有乘客下车。 English: Next station is terminus. Please exit from the train |
Singapore
editMass Rapid Transit
editThe official languages of Singapore are English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil,[6] though the lingua franca is English.
MRT automated station announcements are mostly made in English, though a three-month trial which has since been scrapped saw all station names being announced in Mandarin Chinese as well.[7] At present, select stations are also announced in Mandarin Chinese, particularly on the Downtown MRT line especially where the Chinese and English names differ greatly in pronunciation. Safety announcements are made in all 4 official languages.
| Announcement type | Script/Template |
|---|---|
| Doors closing | Doors are closing. |
| Mind the gap | English: Please mind the gap.
Mandarin Chinese: 请小心空隙。 Malay: Berhati-hati di ruang platform. Tamil: தயவு செய்து தளம் மேடை இடைவெளியை கவனத்தில் கொள்ளுங்கள். |
| Report suspicious behaviour | English: Please do not leave your belongings unattended. If you see any suspicious-looking person or article, please inform our staff, or press the emergency communication button located at the side of the train doors
Mandarin Chinese: 请保管好您的随身物品。若发现任何形迹可疑的人物，或遗留在车厢内的可疑物件，请通知我们的工作人员，或按车厢门边的紧急通讯系统，与我们联络。 Malay: Jangan tinggalkan barang anda tanpa diawasi. Jika anda ternampak orang atau barang yang mencurigakan, sila laporkan kepada kakitangan kami, atau tekan butang kecemasan yang tertelak di tepi pintu kereta api. Tamil: உங்களது உடமைகளை கவனிக்காமல் விட்ட செல்லாதீர்கள். சந்தேகத்துக்குரிய அந்நபரை அல்லது பொருளை நீங்கள் கண்டால் எங்கள் ஊழியர்களிடம் தெரியப்படுத்துங்கள் அல்லது ரயில் கதவுகளுக்கும் பக்கத்தில் அமைந்திருக்கும் அவசர தொடர்பு விசையை அழுத்துங்கள். |
United Kingdom
editLondon Underground
editSome of these announcements are very rare, but exist on the system as pre-recorded messages.[8][9]
| Announcement type | Script/Template |
|---|---|
| Mind the gap | (Please) mind the gap between the train and the platform. |
| Next station | The next station is (station). |
| Terminus (Jubilee line) | This train terminates at (station). |
| Terminus (Northern line) | This is a Northern line train terminating at (station). |
| Terminus (Metropolitan line) | This is a fast/semi-fast/all stations Metropolitan line train to (destination). |
| Terminus (other lines) | This is a (line name) service/train to (destination). |
| Report suspicious behaviour | When you see something that looks unusual, speak to a member of staff or text British Transport Police on 61016, and we'll get it sorted.
That's 61016. See it, say it, sorted. |
| Extra station information | Change here for (lines).
Exit here for (destinations). This station has step-free access. The (line) is (part) suspended (due to planned engineering works. Please use alternative routes.) |
| Arriving at terminus | This is (station), where this train terminates. (Please take your belongings with you when you leave the train.) (All change.) |
| Ready to depart | This train is ready to depart. Please stand clear of the doors. Mind the closing doors. |
| Door side | Doors will open on the right/left-hand side. |
| Red signal | This train is being held at a red signal and should be moving shortly. |
| Personal belongings | Please keep your personal belongings with you at all times. |
| Evacuation[10] | Attention. This train and station are now being evacuated. Please leave the train and exit the station. Follow any instructions given by staff. |
| Next station closed | The next station is closed. |
| Next station evacuated | Customer security alert. The next station has been closed and evacuated. (Line) trains will not stop. |
| Regulation of service | This train is being held here to regulate the service. |
| Severe delays | The (line) is operating with severe delays. |
| Ignore beggars | There are beggars and buskers operating on the train. Please do not encourage their presence by supporting them. |
| Move inside the carriage | Please move right down inside the cars. |
France
editParis Metro
editAutomated station announcements on the Paris Metro notably do not include transferring information. Station announcements are made only in French, while safety and warning announcements are also sometimes made in English, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese, depending on the line and the location.
| Announcement type | Script/Template |
|---|---|
| Mind the gap | French: Attention à la marche, en descendant du train.
English: Please mind the gap between the train and the platform |
| Mind the gap (German) | Bitte achten Sie auf die Lücke zwischen Zug und Bahnsteigkante. |
| Mind the gap (Spanish) | Cuidado con el espacio entre el vagón y el andén. |
| Mind the gap (Italian) | Attenzione al gradino scendendo dal treno. |
| Mind the gap (Japanese) | 足元にご注意ください。 |
| Pickpocket alert | French: Des pickpockets peuvent être présents en station ou à bord des trains. Fermez bien vos sacs et soyez vigilants en utilisant votre smartphone.
English: Beware of pickpockets. German: Achtung vor Taschendieben. Japanese: スリにご注意ください。 Spanish: Cuidado con los carteristas. Mandarin Chinese: 请保管好个人物品，谨防扒手。 Italian: Fate attenzione agli scippatori. |
Belgium
editBrussels Metro
editAutomated station announcements on the Brussels Metro are made in the official languages of the Brussels Capital Region, namely French and Flemish Dutch, as well as in English. The order of the languages used in announcements is linked to how the station appears on the map. For example, Brussels-South railway station is announced as Zuidstation/Gare du Midi but Brussels-Central railway station is announced as Gare Centrale/Centraal Station.
| Announcement type | Script/Template |
|---|---|
| Interchange information (Dutch) | Aansluiting (lines) |
| Interchange information (French) | Correspondances (lines) |
| Interchange information (English) | (Lines) connections |
Canada
editToronto subway
editAutomated station announcements on the Toronto subway are made in English.
| Announcement type | Script/Template |
|---|---|
| Next station | Next station is (station). (Station name) station. (Change for line ___). |
| Arriving at | Arriving at (station). (Station name) station. (Change here for line ___). Doors will open on the right/left. |
References
edit- ^ Murakami, Kery (30 April 2019). "Metro's automated announcements are clear and human-like, but they're less engaging". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ a b Голоса в метро. Official blog of Moscow Metro (in Russian). 26 November 2010. Archived from the original on 24 January 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
- ^ "便利日韓旅客！北捷8月起15站「說韓語」 8轉乘站增日語播報" [For the convenience of Japanese and Korean Tourists! The Taipei Metro will start 'speaking in Korean' in 15 stations and have announcements in Japanese added in 8 interchange stations]. 台視新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 6 June 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "乘客睡覺不省人事到終點站 港鐵車長化身人肉鬧鐘：夠鐘起身喇！" [Passenger deep in slumber at train terminus, train conductor turns into a human alarm clock: Time to wake up!]. Hong Kong Economic Times TOPick (in Cantonese and Chinese (Hong Kong)). 31 January 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "巴鐵廣播分享處－地鐵迪士尼線車廂廣播". Archived from the original on 2011-11-23. Retrieved 2011-12-24.
- ^ "Constitution of the Republic of Singapore". Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via Legislation Division of the Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore.
- ^ "SMRT ends trial on station announcements in Mandarin". Yahoo Newsroom. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Piccadilly Line Driver Announcements". YouTube. 4 December 2011.
- ^ "London Underground behaviours communications development" (PDF). Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ King, Jasper (7 November 2024). "Most terrifying messages you don't want to hear while on London Underground". Metro UK. Retrieved 13 November 2024.