TfL Ref: FOI-2678-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 22nd November 2024 asking for information about Piccadilly 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 some of the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below.
Question 1. Request FOI-1239-2324 states the intention to roll out Adrian Hieatt's voice to the Bakerloo and Central lines for multiple reasons, including his voice being "highly rated" and bringing no extra cost to TfL. Why was the decision made to not also use his voice for the new Piccadilly line and DLR trains? To clarify, I am referring to the decision to use a "digital custom voice created by Acapella Group" for announcements on these trains - please see https://www.acapela-group.com/news/voice-branding-london-underground/ for context.
Answer: The new Piccadilly line and DLR trains will use synthetic voice announcements that have been developed using our latest customer research. This will give us greater flexibility when creating new announcements or amending existing ones and is also a cheaper and less time-consuming way to do it. Train Operators/Passenger Service Assistants will still be able to make announcements over the train’s PA system as they normally would.
Question 2. Are there any plans to bring either Adrian's voice or the new "Elloise" voice to any other lines, modes, or stations?
Answer: We have no plans to use Adrian Hieatt’s voice on any other lines, modes or stations moving forward. The ‘Elloise’ synthetic voice is currently planned to be used on the new Piccadilly line and DLR trains.
Question 3. Please provide a copy of the contract and/or licensing agreement with the Acapela Group for use of the new "Elloise" voice.
Answer: TfL does not hold a copy of the contract as it is between Acapela Group and Siemens Mobility.
Question 4. Will the synthetic voice be used to generate segments in advance to be strung together by a conventional segment-based PA system, or will the announcements be generated in real-time by the PA system?
Answer: The automated announcements will be generated in advance rather than in real-time, with Train Operators/Passenger Service Assistants making certain supplementary announcements as they do currently.
Question 5. If segments are being pre-generated, does the licensing agreement allow for these to be made public via FOI requests, as with some of the other lines?
Answer: The recordings will be exempt from release under section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act, as with most other recordings on London Underground lines.
Question 6. Is the use of the new "Elloise" voice and generation of new announcements reliant on the continued existence of Acapela Group and their services? Would you still be able to generate new PA recordings if/when the contract expires or the company shuts down?
Answer: Acapela Group are providing TfL with all the software required to generate new announcements in the future.
If this is not the information you are looking for 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
