The Sound of the Underground

Root · Post by **Root** » 04 Jul 2006, 15:35

Unfortunately, that waiting room is being opened less and less recently. I used to use it a lot, and it was great to have all the heaters on full blast and nice music emanating from the speakers.

However, I recently missed the penultimate Chesham train and had to wait for the last one; a 40-something minute gap. I thought "it's alright, I'll sit in the waiting room", but no... I had to sit in the cold (this was February/March) for three-quarters-of-an-hour with nothing to do. I was tempted to ride to Chorleywood and come back (I had plenty of time), but I thought better of it.

Root · Post by **Root** » 14 Jul 2006, 16:29

I am surprised no-one has mentioned this:

My favourite sound is "beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep" (or variants thereof) when you've just made it to the right side of the doors. It's the worst sound in the world when you're on the wrong side, and either way this is multiplied infinitely if the train happens to be heading to Mill Hill East, Woodford via Hainault, Kensington Olympia, or Chesham.

Starkey7 · Post by **Starkey7** » 14 Jul 2006, 22:36

Or when you've forgotten to get off at the station, as I once did at Harrow, forgetting that I was on a Watford train. -sigh-

Root · Post by **Root** » 15 Jul 2006, 19:31

So you got off at the next stop and went back? Big deal. I've seen, and heard, worse.

I've seen someone fall asleep on a train whilst on one of my trips down to Brighton. We were on a Brighton Express train, which doesn't stop between East Croydon and... Brighton. Guess what station they were meant to alight at?

My dad fell asleep on a late night train into Berkhamsted and had to get a taxi back from Leighton Buzzard because there were no more trains.

Garion · Post by **Garion** » 21 Jul 2006, 22:58

I like the 1996 stock when the trains accelerate and decelerate. I also like the 1992 and 1995 stock, but the 1996 stock would be my favourite

Starkey7 · Post by **Starkey7** » 22 Jul 2006, 00:10

Here's a sound that I really don't like. Sonja. I'm sure most of you know whom I'm referring to, but for those who don't, I'm referring to the various voice-overs on trains and at stations.

They're incessant. Every half a minute you hear Sonja, or one of her many friends, extolling the virtues of oyster cards, encouraging us to keep our cases and parcels* with us, and advising us to have a bottle of water with us, when of course it's too late to get one until you leave the Tube.
And then you get on the train, and she doesn't just tell you the name of the station and where the trains going (which is all you really need to know). Oh no, she then goes on and tells us all about the delights of each station, such as "Change here for trains to Charing Cross, Victoria, Brighton, Watford Junction, Bournemouth, Eastbourne, Mornington Crescent" or even more absurdly "Change for the Excel Centre" or "Change for the Shopping City Experience". Surely if you wanted those places, you'd already know where you need to change?

Whew. That's taken a weight off my shoulders!

*Who carries parcels nowadays anyway?

gasman · Post by **gasman** » 22 Jul 2006, 10:15

Starkey7 wrote:*Who carries parcels nowadays anyway?

Terrorists. Duh...

Garion · Post by **Garion** » 22 Jul 2006, 22:17

I like the automated messages. It gives each line it's personality. My favourite is the Northern Line voice.

jonny · Post by **jonny** » 23 Jul 2006, 14:58

Starkey:
Isn't Sonia specifically on the Central line? I thought the rest didn't have names, apart from Celia on the Northern line.
Of Course -- I may be wrong, as always.

gasman · Post by **gasman** » 23 Jul 2006, 16:30

Apparently the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines are all voiced by one Emma Clarke. Unless they've changed it since then.

jonny · Post by **jonny** » 23 Jul 2006, 21:29

you're probably right, i was just wondering.

Post by **tubeguru** » 24 Jul 2006, 09:30

Yes, she's still the bird on those lines.

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The Sound of the Underground

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