Some systems are obnoxiously loud, seemingly blaring announcements at all times. Few of these announcements are necessary, and it is a stretch to say that they reduce liability for a system or educate the public when they continuously speak to us. More than likely, they simply create noise pollution and create indifference toward the announcement system as a whole. For example, do you ever pay attention to the airport announcement system? I've been to "quiet airports" around the world, and they're a far more relaxing and pleasant experience.
Trains are no different, and many rail systems even have "quiet cars". Even my beloved Hong Kong MTR is riddled with announcements (although this is in part due to being polyglot - example below).
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| On weekdays, the front car of the New Mexico Rail Runner is the designated quiet car (and a really great paint job). |
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| A Japan Railways (JR) "Green Car" on the left, with a regular car on the right. Green cars are special quiet cars. |
Not everyone gets this memo. I recently rode just six stops on Portland, Oregon's light rail system and quickly became inundated with worthless announcements:
Before every departure
The doors are closing. Train departing. Please hold on.
Before every arrival
(Station name). Doors to my left (right). Puertas a mi izquierda (derecha).
At a major station I passed through
Interstate Rose Quarter, Moda Center, and Veteran's Memorial Coliseum. Doors to my left. Transfer to blue, green, and red line trains by walking one block east. Always use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing tracks. Puertas a mi izquierda. Transbordo a los trenes de líneas azules, verdes y rojas a una cuadra al este. Siempre use los pasos de peatones y mire a ambos lados antes de cruzar las vías.
When the doors opened at the major station
Orange line to Milwaukie. Línea naranja a Milwaukie.
Other announcements heard:
- In the priority seating area, you are required to move for seniors and people with disabilities. En el área de asientos prioritarios, se le requiere que se mueva para personas mayores y personas con discapacidades.
- Always use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing tracks. Siempre use los pasos de peatones y mire a ambos lados antes de cruzar las vías.
- Be alert and stay safe. Report suspicious objects or behaviors to a TriMet employee, or call 9-1-1. Estar alerta y mantenerse a salvo. Reportan de objetos sospechosos o comportamientos a un empleado de TriMet, o llame 9-1-1.
The above text in six stations is already around three hundred words. Some of them make the system great, and others are simply white noise.
Let's break it down.
First, eliminate all of the "Other" announcements. They don't add any value whatsoever. They would work just fine as a sign.
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| "If you SEE something, SAY something" sign on the New Mexico Rail Runner. |
Next, treat the major station the same as a regular station. If you have to announce that the transfer is "one block east", then your off-train signage is terrible and you've failed as a transportation system.
Eliminate door closing rambling. Most systems around the world simply have flashing lights and/or a minor chime. "The doors are closing. Train departing. Please hold on" is too long and loaded with obvious and unimportant information. The door chime could just as easily be "Doors close. Trains move. Force equals mass times acceleration."
The New Mexico Rail Runner door chime is a spectacular and creative branding example
Add an announcement for the line color and destination for each stop. "Orange line, línea naranja, Milwaukie" should be added to each station, not just transfer points. This makes the system more friendly and it is precisely the right amount of useful information to share. It's also great to eliminate extra words whenever possible. In the Seattle area, Sound Transit's Link makes it a habit to say "station" after each station announcement, i.e. "Tukwila International Boulevard Station." We know it's a station... you don't have to tell us.
If a system is going to inform its riders of the rules, there is a time and place for it. Although I see no reason to do so under nearly all circumstances, there can be more tasteful examples of announcements.
One of Hong Kong's MTR announcements in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English
One final thought: a system's cleanliness and design should make it difficult to break the rules to begin with. Priority seating areas should be very clearly labeled, signs and wayfaring should be excellent, and fares systems should be easy to adhere to. However, there will be more on system and station design in the future.
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| Great map to reduce announcements. What would happen if the Budapest Metro announced every connection? |
