FOI request detail

Incorrect pronunciation of Leigh on your automated

Request ID: FOI-1196-1819
Date published: 13 August 2018

You asked

Ever since you took over many railway stations in South London (London Overground) from Southern Rail your automated announcements (voiced by Emma Hignett) have incorrectly pronounced Leigh (in Kent) as "Lee" when the correct pronunciation is actually "Lie". The previous Southern Rail announcements (voiced by Celia Drummond and Phil Sayer) always said it correctly as "Lie". As Norwood Junction had direct trains in the peak hour to Leigh this meant that these station announcements with the incorrect pronunciation were used at Norwood Junction every day for many years. I have reported this to station staff four times but it was never fixed and re recorded with the correct pronunciation. And since the May 2018 timetable changes there are no longer any scheduled trains from Norwood Junction (or anywhere in Greater London) to Leigh as the Redhill to Tonbridge line has been turned in to a shuttle service between Redhill and Tonbridge only. So it is not possible to tell anymore if it has been corrected. However despite the loss of a direct service i would still recommend the pronunciation is corrected (if it hasn't been already) as it is still possible that direct services to Leigh could operate during engineering works. So i would therefore like to know the following under the FOI Act: • 1. Has the pronunciation of Leigh on your station automated announcements been corrected yet? • 2. If no to Q1 then do you have any plans to correct the pronunciation? • 3. If yes to Q2 then when will the pronunciation be corrected?

We answered

TfL Ref: 1196-1819

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 31 July 2018 asking for information about station 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.  You asked:

• 1. Has the pronunciation of Leigh on your station automated announcements been corrected yet?

• 2. If no to Q1 then do you have any plans to correct the pronunciation?

• 3. If yes to Q2 then when will the pronunciation be corrected?

We were not aware of the mis-pronunciation of this station name.  Due to the cost involved of changing individual announcements, we will look at doing this when we have a sufficient ‘batch’ of necessary recordings. However we do not know when this will be, at this stage.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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