Those of us who regularly use trains will no doubt be relieved to hear that transport secretary, Grant Shapps is to review repetitive and unnecessary announcements on trains in an attempt to make train travel more attractive to commuters.

Mr. Shapps said ‘Train passengers are all too often plagued by an endless torrent of repeated and unnecessary announcements.’. He went on to say that he is ‘calling for a bonfire of the banalities to bring down the number of announcements passengers are forced to sit through and make their journey that little bit more peaceful.’

This should bring an end to the repetition of less-than vital-messaging like shoes on seats, noisy headphones, and litter in bins,” but the Department for Transport (DfT) said key safety messages would remain. So sadly, no reprieve from British Transport Police’s “most annoying slogan of the century”, “See it. Say it. Sorted”.

The DfT said it would be working closely with the Rail Delivery Group and passenger groups such as Transport Focus, as well as train operators, to identify how the “vast number” of announcements could be cut or reduced.

Commuters can now look forward to not being reminded when the food court is closing, having their tickets ready, and the most annoying of all, constant reminders that you are in a quiet carriage (where the only noise is coming from the tannoy system).

Although the government does not have the power to stop this “bonfire of banalities”, they are hoping that the rail industry will limit announcements that are not critical and prioritise a calmer environment for passengers.

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime, and Transport union (RMT), said the policy was “clearly nothing but a PR stunt by this collapsing Government”.

A number of these announcements are imposed on the train companies by the DfT, and many of them are essential for blind passengers.

The move has been welcomed by Transport Focus and the Rail Delivery Group.

We await further announcements…

Wendy Morton, the rail minister, has praised the new £161m upgrade to Leeds station which will transform rail journeys across Yorkshire.

The Minister met with former apprentices and Network Rail staff who have helped deliver the upgrades to the Trans Pennine Route.

New tracks and longer platforms are included in the £161m upgrade which will provide passengers with more seats, services, and more punctual journeys.

The Leeds station upgrade forms part of the Government’s £96bn Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) aimed at transforming rail connections in the North and Midlands.

Speaking on the upgrade Rail Minister Wendy Morton said: “Leeds station is a major hub right at the heart of the North. It is not only a gateway to one of the UK’s most vibrant and lively cities but a vital transport link.”

She added that this would enable people from all over the country to travel for work, pleasure and connect with friends and family. These upgrades are a huge milestone and will go a long way to delivering a modern, fully connected transport hub fit for the future. Passengers should also see improvements to journey times much sooner than under previous plans with the IRP.

Councillor James Lewis said that the upgrades at Leeds station were an important milestone in the continued ambitions to modernise Leeds rail connections.

The upgrades are a first step towards beginning to address the capacity issues at Leeds station.
“We will work with the government to secure a robust strategy for ongoing enhancements to improve connectivity for Leeds that will benefit Yorkshire, the North and the UK.”

Upgrades to Leeds station were completed by engineers over the New Year break.