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Post by busaholic on Jun 12, 2018 12:43:28 GMT
indeed another discrepancy: the 171 she says normally but 176 she stresses the "1" and sort of counts down at the 7-6 part making it seem like she is shouting and singing a tune at the same time. And as a rider of the 171 its weird to hear such a difference when on the 176...however, it may have been changed when it went to Go Ahead i havent been on it for a while. I can assure you the 176’s hasn’t changed, I went on it last week, it does sounds silly though stressing the first number. That’s why I hate the 117 and 207 as well cos she does the same there too. Edit: also with the 38 as well, that’s another one I dislike. None of this compares to Brockley being announced as Arkley on London Overground trains, compounded by the train carriage I was last on there only having a map featuring the North London Line and Watford to Euston.
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Post by Green Kitten on Jun 12, 2018 12:51:12 GMT
So one thing that has been brought to my attention recently is the fact that tons of destinations on bus routes have been changed (audio-wise) on buses. Most notably in my area, West Croydon and Addington Village have been changed, as well as Epsom Hospital being changed to Epsom General Hospital* *Personally I think this one is just plain useless. It may still be called to as Epsom General Hospital but practically no one calls it that anymore and what was wrong with the previous Epsom Hospital ones anyway. Besides, even ENL101 with its brand new blinds still just displays "Epsom Hospital" on the front. And once again with the West Croydon and Addington Village announcements, no need for those changes either. I can assure you that nobody has ever sat on a 154 or 466 or whatever and thought you know what, these announcements sound terrible if only they'd re-record them! Coupled to the abysmal new Central Line announcements which have yet again given me another excuse to avoid the 1992TS, I think I'm starting to see a new pattern as to what TFL is spending money saved from cutting everything in sight! Wrong there, cos I have!!! I HATED the West Croydon announcement as it sounded really really unnatural imo: “194..... to..... WEST Croydon”. I despised it and it genuinely was one of my most hated announcements Emma H says, and it’s music to my ears to find theyve changed it! Other destinations and numbers that she says that I hate are:
302 (<- that’s the worst!) 117 207 W5 G1 N5 76 176 283 Chiswick, Edensor Road (it sounds like she’s about to say something else afterwards) Regent Street (same again, they truncated it from another announcement I think) West Croydon (gone now, yay!) Lower Sydenham (sounds like she’s hiccuping as she’s saying it ) Stratford (there’s a huge gap between to... and Stratford) Parliament Hill Fields (they changed that too, there used to be an unnecessary gap between Parliament and Hill) Plumstead Station (it goes “ 53.... to..... PLUMstead Station” really annoying!) Im sure there are more, if I think of them I’ll edit them in.But by far the worse one by a mile was:”Please hold on, the bus is about to move”!!!!!One announcement that I notice is the destination to Barking - she sounds so bored saying the word 'Barking'. Then again I don't blame her.
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Post by redexpress on Jun 12, 2018 12:52:20 GMT
I think it depends on how much emphasis Emma Hignett places on a certain syllable(s) and the tone she uses within the number sequences and destination names. Some sound more 'natural' than others i.e. as if a conversation is taking place, as is the case with some of the routes you mentioned. The 16 for example, the 'teen' part of the 16 has a somewhat unfinished tone to it. This topic doesn't bug me much, but it's just a thought. I would personally prefer it if Emma consistently employs a more 'robotic' tone for the iBus Personally I quite like the fact that the announcements vary in tone. It makes them more human. I'm actually surprised that some people would prefer a more robotic voice, but each to their own It must be impossible to read through the hundreds of mostly boring announcements without a bit of emotion showing through from time to time. One of my favourites is "Ye Olde Cherry Tree" stop in Southgate where she sounds happier than usual.
The only ones I'd change are the few that really jar, like the Regent Street one mentioned above - that one was indeed truncated from a longer announcement (something like "Regent Street, Charles II Street"), because Regent Street wasn't used as a destination at the time. The C2 terminus used to be described as Oxford Circus; now the blinds show Oxford Circus but iBus says Regent Street
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Post by enviroPB on Jun 12, 2018 13:19:48 GMT
Wrong there, cos I have!!! I HATED the West Croydon announcement as it sounded really really unnatural imo: “194..... to..... WEST Croydon”. I despised it and it genuinely was one of my most hated announcements Emma H says, and it’s music to my ears to find theyve changed it! Other destinations and numbers that she says that I hate are:
302 (<- that’s the worst!) 117 207 W5 G1 N5 76 176 283 Chiswick, Edensor Road (it sounds like she’s about to say something else afterwards) Regent Street (same again, they truncated it from another announcement I think) West Croydon (gone now, yay!) Lower Sydenham (sounds like she’s hiccuping as she’s saying it ) Stratford (there’s a huge gap between to... and Stratford) Parliament Hill Fields (they changed that too, there used to be an unnecessary gap between Parliament and Hill) Plumstead Station (it goes “ 53.... to..... PLUMstead Station” really annoying!) Im sure there are more, if I think of them I’ll edit them in.But by far the worse one by a mile was:”Please hold on, the bus is about to move”!!!!!I think it depends on how much emphasis Emma Hignett places on a certain syllable(s) and the tone she uses within the number sequences and destination names. Some sound more 'natural' than others i.e. as if a conversation is taking place, as is the case with some of the routes you mentioned. The 16 for example, the 'teen' part of the 16 has a somewhat unfinished tone to it. This topic doesn't bug me much, but it's just a thought. I would personally prefer it if Emma consistently employs a more 'robotic' tone for the iBus I like the variation in tones; not for the more human element but for character to the iBus network. I like the delay before announcing Stratford on routes terminating there; I like how elegant Barking is announced; instead of harshly saying it and so would be an action instead of saying a place name The only thing that gets to me is botched jobs where TfL aren't bothered to rerecord announcements. I'm glad Regent Street has been mentioned; 'Plaistow Prince....Regent Lane' always ticks me off when I hear the budget fusion by TfL. Balaam Street was onced passed off as Balham Street by TfL; rerecordings of both bus stop names and curtailment points by buses soon followed.
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Post by DE20106 on Jun 12, 2018 13:26:13 GMT
I think it depends on how much emphasis Emma Hignett places on a certain syllable(s) and the tone she uses within the number sequences and destination names. Some sound more 'natural' than others i.e. as if a conversation is taking place, as is the case with some of the routes you mentioned. The 16 for example, the 'teen' part of the 16 has a somewhat unfinished tone to it. This topic doesn't bug me much, but it's just a thought. I would personally prefer it if Emma consistently employs a more 'robotic' tone for the iBus Personally I quite like the fact that the announcements vary in tone. It makes them more human. I'm actually surprised that some people would prefer a more robotic voice, but each to their own It must be impossible to read through the hundreds of mostly boring announcements without a bit of emotion showing through from time to time. One of my favourites is "Ye Olde Cherry Tree" stop in Southgate where she sounds happier than usual.
The only ones I'd change are the few that really jar, like the Regent Street one mentioned above - that one was indeed truncated from a longer announcement (something like "Regent Street, Charles II Street"), because Regent Street wasn't used as a destination at the time. The C2 terminus used to be described as Oxford Circus; now the blinds show Oxford Circus but iBus says Regent Street I know people are gonna call me really petty for this, but I do hate the way it’s no longer compulsory for the iBus to match the destination on the blinds. Oxford Circus and Regent Street are completely different word-wise (although the same place) and it could panic a few tourists who really aren’t familiar with London. I can just just about get over the 120 saying Northolt Station on the blinds rather than Northolt. And I’m also happy to report that other routes with the destination of ‘White City’ now states ‘White City BUS STATION’ on new blinds, namely the 316 after having 268 added to the sets.
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Post by rmz19 on Jun 12, 2018 18:18:55 GMT
One announcement that I notice is the destination to Barking - she sounds so bored saying the word 'Barking'. Then again I don't blame her. This made me chuckle Indeed, some of her mentionings sound as if she 'ain't boverrred'
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Post by bookd on Jun 12, 2018 20:28:21 GMT
For the first time tonight I took the H25 home from Feltham on the diversion route, and noted that all of the stops on the diversion are on the screen and announcements - as this diversion will last for almost a year this could make sense. The temporary stops (at least the Browells Lane one) have proper bus stops with e plates for the routes served. I see from the notices on the stops the diversion will be lifted at 17.00 on 28th February 2019 - if that happens exactly on time that will be amazing!
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Post by bookd on Jun 12, 2018 20:36:51 GMT
Regarding my earlier post on the H25 maybe someone local may know why the southbound diversion is necessary. From Feltham Station it diverts via New Road,Harlington Road and Browells Lane; southbound journeys used to use the level crossing, which is still open, and if they reverted to that route they could still reach the Victoria Road stop in the High Street which is completely unserved by all routes until next February.
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Post by vjaska on Jun 12, 2018 20:42:39 GMT
For the first time tonight I took the H25 home from Feltham on the diversion route, and noted that all of the stops on the diversion are on the screen and announcements - as this diversion will last for almost a year this could make sense. The temporary stops (at least the Browells Lane one) have proper bus stops with e plates for the routes served. I see from the notices on the stops the diversion will be lifted at 17.00 on 28th February 2019 - if that happens exactly on time that will be amazing! This normally happens when a diversion is long term which makes sense if you have long term disruption.
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Post by rmz19 on Jun 13, 2018 12:01:23 GMT
A random thought and a personal preference. I could imagine an all-white bus network, with black surrounds/panels, slight window tint, bonded windows etc. for a nice contrast. Also using LED blinds with white colour LEDs. Buses would be very attractive, especially with the newer designs lately. Though maintenance would be a hassle as all-white buses would require constant cleaning. Just an idea.
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Post by cl54 on Jun 13, 2018 12:13:46 GMT
A random thought and a personal preference. I could imagine an all-white bus network, with black surrounds/panels, slight window tint, bonded windows etc. for a nice contrast. Also using LED blinds with white colour LEDs. Buses would be very attractive, especially with the newer designs lately. Though maintenance would be a hassle as all-white buses would require constant cleaning. Just an idea. From new RM664 was left in unpainted aluminium to test the effects of running in London. It was not a success and the bodywork became discoloured very quickly. White would go much the same way.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2018 12:15:29 GMT
A random thought and a personal preference. I could imagine an all-white bus network , with black surrounds/panels, slight window tint, bonded windows etc. for a nice contrast. Also using LED blinds with white colour LEDs. Buses would be very attractive, especially with the newer designs lately. Though maintenance would be a hassle as all-white buses would require constant cleaning. Just an idea. My word I’m glad you expanded further 😂 Seriously though, I personally wouldn’t like it at all. I’d be much more in favour of the different-coloured roundel being applied across all modes. Predominantly: - red for buses - orange for LOROL - cyan for DLR - blue for TfL Rail - purple for crossrail The LU could keep its colour scheme as it’s been recognisable for decades. Either that or paint them predominant blue and red. I’d also encourage bus liveries like they had back in the day... maybe not as much as LU had but certainly the skirting and rooftop area, and maybe an optional moquette at the rear side like the Cowie days?
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Post by vjaska on Jun 13, 2018 13:02:01 GMT
A random thought and a personal preference. I could imagine an all-white bus network , with black surrounds/panels, slight window tint, bonded windows etc. for a nice contrast. Also using LED blinds with white colour LEDs. Buses would be very attractive, especially with the newer designs lately. Though maintenance would be a hassle as all-white buses would require constant cleaning. Just an idea. My word I’m glad you expanded further 😂 Seriously though, I personally wouldn’t like it at all. I’d be much more in favour of the different-coloured roundel being applied across all modes. Predominantly: - red for buses - orange for LOROL - cyan for DLR - blue for TfL Rail - purple for crossrail The LU could keep its colour scheme as it’s been recognisable for decades. Either that or paint them predominant blue and red. I’d also encourage bus liveries like they had back in the day... maybe not as much as LU had but certainly the skirting and rooftop area, and maybe an optional moquette at the rear side like the Cowie days? I'd be more relaxed personally - operators can have any sort of livery they like and I'd encourage the operators that have been around for many years to re-adopt their former livery (shame there wouldn't be any Metrobus Yellow & Blue) - all buses would have to carry roundels & a notice at the front to show it's a TfL bus. I'd also introduce one interior across all operators - 1980's LT interior being my choice
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Post by redexpress on Jun 13, 2018 13:02:09 GMT
A random thought and a personal preference. I could imagine an all-white bus network, with black surrounds/panels, slight window tint, bonded windows etc. for a nice contrast. Also using LED blinds with white colour LEDs. Buses would be very attractive, especially with the newer designs lately. Though maintenance would be a hassle as all-white buses would require constant cleaning. Just an idea. Good grief no. All-white buses only look good when they're freshly painted. After a few months on the road they look awful. Just look at the buses that operate in "dealer white" up and down the country.
All-red buses are only marginally better. But in general any "livery" that consists of just one colour makes it difficult to keep the bus in good nick, because any blemishes (dents, dings, dodgy panels etc) are more apparent. If you have a few features like a different colour skirt or a few swooshes or stripes here and there, the blemishes are less obvious.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2018 13:08:51 GMT
A random thought and a personal preference. I could imagine an all-white bus network, with black surrounds/panels, slight window tint, bonded windows etc. for a nice contrast. Also using LED blinds with white colour LEDs. Buses would be very attractive, especially with the newer designs lately. Though maintenance would be a hassle as all-white buses would require constant cleaning. Just an idea. Good grief no. All-white buses only look good when they're freshly painted. After a few months on the road they look awful. Just look at the buses that operate in "dealer white" up and down the country.
All-red buses are only marginally better. But in general any "livery" that consists of just one colour makes it difficult to keep the bus in good nick, because any blemishes (dents, dings, dodgy panels etc) are more apparent. If you have a few features like a different colour skirt or a few swooshes or stripes here and there, the blemishes are less obvious.
Got to agree there. I liked the London Central/General grey skirts. They made the bus look good despite the battering and dirt they took on
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