Information about your current London Underground tube stations platforms automated announcements systems.
Request ID: FOI-0582-2223 Date published: 24 June 2022
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
I use the London Underground every day and visit all different stations and i have always noticed that there are currently two different types of station platform automated announcements wordings and formats in use depending on the station. Both are voiced by the same exact voice (Elinor Hamilton) however the wording is different. So this makes me wonder if these are two separate systems provided by two separate suppliers.
The two systems that are both currently used are:
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TYPE A:
Next Train Announcement:
• "Victoria Line. The next train to Brixton will arrive in one minute."
Approaching Train Announcement:
• "Victoria Line. The train now approaching is to Brixton. Please stand back from the platform edge."
I have heard this format at these stations including: Bank, Camden Town, Green Park, Holland Park, Mile End, Westminster, and many others.
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TYPE B:
Next Train Announcement:
• "The next train will arrive in one minute. It will be a Victoria Line service calling at all stations to Brixton."
Approaching Train Announcement:
• "The next train will be a Victoria Line service calling at all stations to Brixton. Please stand behind the yellow line as the train approaches. Use the full length of the platform. And let customers off the train first."
I have heard this format at these stations including: Leyton, Maida Vale, Shepherds Bush, St Pauls, Victoria, Wanstead, and many others.
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Obviously these are just examples so the names of the lines and the stations will change depending on the announcement but the scripts and format will remain the same.
So i would like to know more about this and in particular i would like to know:
• Can you please provide a full list of all of your London Underground stations with automated announcements that shows which station uses which version. Like i say above there are two types (which i labelled Type A and Type B above) so i would like a full list of which stations uses which format of announcements. I know some of them but i am hoping you can provide a full list of which station uses which.
• Are these two formats of announcements provided by two separate suppliers as i suspect may be the case here. If so who are these two suppliers of automated announcements systems and which supplier provides which format announcements. Or are these two formats provided by the same supplier who just uses a different script and wording at different stations and if so what is the reason for this.
• Could you attach all of the sound files for both of these automated announcements systems please. I know i have seen previous replies to other people where you have provided some sound files. So i am wondering if you are able to provide these. I know you have refused the onboard announcements for all lines (except the JNP lines Ketech ones which you seem to give out) as they are provided by Global Services Limited however i am sure Global Services Limited are only the supplier of the onboard announcements for BCV and SSL and they do not provide the station platform announcements on any lines. So i think that you should be able to release both formats of all the files of your London Underground station platform automated announcements sound files that you have.
Thank you very much in advance for your help regarding this matter and i look forward to hearing from you.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0582-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 8th June 2022 asking for information about London Underground announcements.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. However, I am afraid that it is not possible to source the information to answer your questions within the costs limit for responding to cases, as set out under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act. Under section 12, TfL is not required to provide information if it would cost more than £450 to determine if the requested information is held, and to then locate, retrieve or extract that information from elsewhere. This is calculated at a rate of £25 per hour, equivalent to 18 hours work. In this case the exemption applies largely on account of your first question. This information has not been collated before and there is no quick or efficient way of doing so. We estimate that it would exceed the 18 hour threshold to review every such announcement at every station and to compile such a list.
Notwithstanding the above, I can inform you that a single supplier provides our Digital Voice Announcer (DVA) announcements. The newer message gets rolled out across the network during changes to the station systems i.e. during renewals, enhancements, and major projects. If you would like access to the repository of announcements that we are able to release you will need to provide us with your direct email address. If you can please supply this, citing your FOI reference number, then we can grant access to the files.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
