TfL Ref: FOI-2314-1617
 
Thank you for your email received by us on 19 February 2017 asking for information about S stock trains 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 some of the information you require.  You asked for:
 
 
1. I am aware that you replaced the Phil Sayer "please mind the gap between the train and the platform" announcements at some point in around 2015 with a new male voice. However i recently noticed that these two trains still have the old Phil Sayer "please mind the gap between the train and the platform" announcements.
21413 - 22413 - 24413 - 24414 - 23414 - 22414 - 21414
21489 - 22489 - 24489 - 24490 - 23490 - 22490 - 21490
I would like to know are these the only two trains to still have the old Phil Sayer announcements or are there any others as well? If so what are the unit numbers of the others?
 
It is not intended that any S stock train retain the older announcements. We are checking to see if any others have the older announcements, and correcting them.
 

2. Do you have any plans to replace Phil Sayer with the new male voice in these two remaining units (and any others which still have it)? If so when will this happen?
 
See response to question 1 above.  We intend all S stock to have the new voice.
 
 
3. What was the reason for removing the "please mind the gap between the train and the platform" announcements that were voiced by Phil Sayer and replacing them with a new male voice?
 
There was a desire for the announcement to be more instructive and definite.
 
4. What is the full name of the new male voice artist who replaced the Phil Sayer "please mind the gap between the train and the platform" announcements on the S stock units?
 
The new voice is Dan Akers.
 
5. I have noticed that the "please mind the gap between the train and the platform" announcements only play at certain stations (possibly those with a bigger gap). Could you please provide a list of all stations where the S stock units play this announcement?
 
The "please mind the gap between the train and the platform" is programmed to play for platforms with defined bigger gaps.  The sites currently programmed to give the announcement are listed below.  In some cases not all platforms at a station in the given direction have the bigger gap but the announcement system cannot know in advance which of multiple platforms a train will go to:
 
Chesham – on arrival
Rickmansworth – both directions
Ickenham – eastbound only
Ruislip – eastbound only
Eastcote – eastbound only
Rayners Lane – eastbound only
West Harrow – both directions
Northwick Park – northbound only
Wembley Park – both directions
Finchley Road – both directions
Baker Street – both directions with Met line and H&C trains and Circle (EB only) (to allow for S7 trains going to the Met line platforms at start or finish, associated with stabling at Neasden depot.
Great Portland Street – both directions
King’s Cross St. Pancras – both directions
Farringdon – both directions
Moorgate – eastbound only
Liverpool Street – both directions
Aldgate – Met line on arrival and Circle both directions
Ladbroke Grove – both directions
Westbourne Park – eastbound only
Royal Oak – westbound only
Paddington (H&C) – both directions
Edgware Road – both directions
Paddington (Circle & District) – both directions
Notting Hill Gate – eastbound only
High Street Kensington – eastbound only
Ealing Broadway – on arrival
Ealing Common – both directions
Acton Town – both directions
Chiswick Park – both directions
Stamford Brook – both directions
Ravenscourt Park – both directions
Hammersmith (District) - – both directions
Barons Court – both directions
West Kensington – eastbound only
Richmond – on arrival
Kew Gardens – both directions
Gunnersbury – both directions
Wimbledon Park – both directions
East Putney – both directions
Putney Bridge – both directions (but westbound announcement due to be deleted due to new platform with smaller gaps)
Parsons Green – eastbound only
West Brompton – both directions
Olympia – on arrival
Earl’s Court – eastbound only
South Kensington – westbound only
Sloane Square – both directions
Victoria – both directions
St. James’s Park – both directions
Westminster – westbound only
Temple – eastbound only
Blackfriars –westbound only
Mansion House – both directions
Cannon Street – both directions
Monument – both directions
Tower Hill – both directions
Whitechapel – westbound only
Bow Road – both directions
Bromley-by-Bow westbound only
Plaistow - both directions
Barking – eastbound only
Upney –eastbound only
Dagenham Heathway – eastbound only
Dagenham East – both directions
Elm Park – eastbound only
Upminster Bridge – eastbound only
Upminster – on arrival
 
 
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Yours sincerely
 
 
Paulina Tuffour
FOI Case Officer
 
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London