TfW Class 197 Announcements: Liverpool to Chester

Automated announcements from on board a Transport For Wales Class 197, running from Liverpool Lime Street to Chester. Announcements voiced by Eryl (Welsh) and Elin (English).

[@Trainstoppersunited]

You should do the announcements on the Manchester to Llandudno service

[@jamiehooper5328]

Great announceents on board and it being bilingual, there was a journey video I saw that had Eryl and Elin both announcing the train running late too on the WAG sets even said delay reasons as well. Anne has replaced Emma at Kilburn High Road and South Hampstead.

[@georgedowns4034]

why just those 2 overground stations?

[@Parallel395]

Thanks Jamie. I think the PIS on board the MK4s might be supplied by KeTech so I think maybe a different system - I haven’t heard anything other than basic announcements on the 197s

[@jamiehooper5328]

They are rolling them out on the Watford DC line, the rest of the North London Line and the South and East London Line such as Wandsworth Road, Norwood Junction and Crystal palace etc. Emma will be replaced by beginning of 2024@@georgedowns4034

[@jamiehooper5328]

Yes the WAG sets are KeTech as they have LED screens onboard which have the KeTech logo. I think Southern 377s are also KeTech too as well as some of the LU trains 1990s.@@Parallel395

[@LokiAvivson]

​@@jamiehooper5328KeTech is also Chiltern 68 + Mk3 sets

[@thelondoner614]

Nice voices but pauses are too long 😢

[@LongHaulPilot]

They changed it now as they now say "Byddyn i'n teithio i" instead of "Di'n mynd i"

[@ChopperNeill98]

I agree with others in the comments, This is a journey within England from Liverpool to Chester and the ammouncements should be in English only. I accept TfW would want Welsh but they need to remember that its not spoken in England and most people don't speak it, Surely TfW know about this

[@Cowman9791]

I think on this service, welsh should not be used first, as no part of this service is actually in wales, so they are essentially using a foreign language over the local language for the whole journey. Obviously, that criticism wouldn't apply if the service enters wales, just to TfW's purely English services.

[@Parallel395]

Yeah, I don’t think there’s any need between Chester and Liverpool, though I understand why TfW would want Welsh

[@Cowman9791]

@Parallel395 I think a compromise could be programming the announcement system so it swaps language upon crossing the border, so its welsh first in wales, but switches to english first when the train is in england (where welsh language protections, including treating welsh more favourably) do not apply.

[@Parallel395]

@@Cowman9791agreed. And they have English first at Newport and that’s in Wales, so no reason why they couldn’t do what you suggested

[@Cowman9791]

@Parallel395 indeed, albeit, that is station announcements, not trains ones, but I'm sure there could be some way to program swapping into such a system.

[@Haydengamingtimes]

nice

[@matthighley1461]

Why didn't they make Elin sound so grumpy and fed up like her predecessor? Shameful!

[@Parallel395]

TfW have released some new recordings Ruth made for TfW and the 175 fleet a couple of years ago. They’re on their website - if you haven’t heard them, you’re in for a treat! 😂

[@jonathancarless8496]

Why to TFW even run this service if it’s solely in England?

[@Parallel395]

They’re planning on running the service into Wales in the future

[@Trainstoppersunited]

Some services now continue on to Wrexham General