to think there is no need for train stations to be like this?

[MindYourUsage]

Farringdon station.

(Human, "live") Announcers for both platforms repeatedly bellowing both of them at the same time meaning neither side can understand anything.

Passengers just standing there enduring a wall after wall of shouty incoherent noise. What's the point?

It's not an unfommon experience at other stations, either.

All this money on customer experience research... well here's an insight! Surely it isn't impossible for a simple cheap process to sort this out?

Happens at other stations too.
My favourite announcement is the one warning people to stand back from the edge as the approaching train isn't stopping..... the announcement comes 30 seconds after high speed train has already passed. Not just a one off, it happens everytime I'm at that particular station

YANBU, there certainly isn’t any need for train stations to be like that because the ones I’ve used recently aren’t. My town’s station has one very clear announcer. Seems bizarre to have two in competition.

When I used to commute in to a major city everyday, I would attempt to read some documents to prep for my day at work. However, the buffet cart announcement on Cross Country trains would take so long that I would give up because I couldn’t concentrate. I do not need to know what every single item on the buffet cart is. I can use my imagination if they just said “hot and cold drinks, snacks and sandwiches”. It would give me the rage like nothing else!

When they do a really long announcement about the buffet car but the sound is so poor all you can hear is the mumble drone... 😩

I was just thinking this morning that I wish train stations were more like airports. I always spend a fortune on coffees and snacks in airports. Yes, it is more of a captive market, but it's almost like I want them to take my money as I get to be in this liminal space for a little while and pretend I am a person who wafts around buying expensive perfumes and toiletries. Train stations need to up their game!