Bakerloo Line 1972 Stock new automated announcements questions
Request ID: FOI-1239-2324 Date published: 14 August 2023
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
I would like to make a Freedom Of Information Act 2000 request about your Bakerloo Line 1972 Stock automated announcements please.
I have noticed that very recently you appear to have started changing your automated announcements on your Bakerloo Line 1972 Stock trains. I noticed train unit numbers 3260 and 3532 appear to now have these completely new automated announcements. In addition to that they appear to have new LED screens onboard too.
So i wish to ask you some questions please:
• Why did you decide to replace the current Emma Clarke automated announcements with this new male voice on these trains?
• What is the name of this new male voiceover artist on these Bakerloo Line 1972 Stock trains?
• The new automated announcements are extremely loud and can be clearly heard from the platform outside the train too. Even with the doors fully closed you can still hear the announcements at full volume on the platforms. So i am wondering are they simply set to a very high volume or have you installed new speakers on the exterior of the train? If so what is the reason for having exterior speakers too?
• So far i have only seen 3260 and 3532 with these new automated announcements but i would like to know if you are planning to roll out these announcements to the entire Bakerloo Line 1972 Stock fleet?
• Do you have any plans to roll out these new automated announcements to the trains on the other lines too (eg Central Line 1992 Stock etc) at some point?
• Lastly can you attach the sound files for these new automated announcements please? I know your current Bakerloo Line 1972 Stock announcements are provided by Global Radio Services Limited and are exempt from disclosure but as these are completely new different announcements i suspect you should be able to release them?
Thank you in advance for your help regarding this and i look forward to your reply.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1239-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 18th July 2023 asking for information about announcements on Bakerloo Line trains.
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. Your questions are answered in turn below:
Question 1: Why did you decide to replace the current Emma Clarke automated announcements with this new male voice on these trains?
Answer: This is not a request for recorded information under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. However, TfL has moved to the use of an in-house voice artist for these recordings which comes at a lower cost.
Question 2: What is the name of this new male voiceover artist on these Bakerloo Line 1972 Stock trains?
Answer: Adrian Hieatt, a TfL employee. The voice was used after a customer experience study found Adrian’s voice was highly rated. This is an in-house person who provides changes to our testing scripts at short notice and at no external cost.
Question 3: The new automated announcements are extremely loud and can be clearly heard from the platform outside the train too. Even with the doors fully closed you can still hear the announcements at full volume on the platforms. So i am wondering are they simply set to a very high volume or have you installed new speakers on the exterior of the train? If so what is the reason for having exterior speakers too?
Answer: There are no speakers fitted to the outside of the train. The new Passenger Information System is currently undergoing testing and at present is operating with the system at the maximum permitted volume. Part of the testing will include an exercise to adjust the volume levels to deliver both compliant performance and passenger comfort.
Question 4: So far i have only seen 3260 and 3532 with these new automated announcements but i would like to know if you are planning to roll out these announcements to the entire Bakerloo Line 1972 Stock fleet?
Answer: Yes - the roll-out for the remainder of the 1972 Tube stock is due commence in May 2024 and finish in June 2026.
Question 5: Do you have any plans to roll out these new automated announcements to the trains on the other lines too (eg Central Line 1992 Stock etc) at some point?
Answer: Yes - this is part of the requirement to comply with the Department for Transport’s ‘Rail Vehicles Accessibility’ Regulation. The Central Line is also undergoing the same upgrade. New trains will be fitted with a Passenger Information System as standard. Question 6: Lastly can you attach the sound files for these new automated announcements please? I know your current Bakerloo Line 1972 Stock announcements are provided by Global Radio Services Limited and are exempt from disclosure but as these are completely new different announcements i suspect you should be able to release them?
Answer: The files have been added to our public repository of announcements. In order to provide you with access we require a direct email address in order to create the necessary permissions. Could you please email us directly with your email address, citing your FOI reference number, and we can then grant access.
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,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
