"That's a wrap" - Northern re-records 34 station name announcements to better reflect local pronunciation

NORTHERN has re-recorded the on board announcement for 34 of the stations across its network following a public appeal to ensure local pronunciation was respected.

The train operator received 47 formal requests to re-record announcements, with multiple submissions for Aspatria in Cumbria (to be pronounced as:- 'As spay tria'), Kirkham and Wesham in Lancashire (to be pronounced Kirkham and Wess am), Ilkeston in Derbyshire (to be pronounced:- 'Il kes ton') and Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire (to be pronounced Sowby Bridge).

On completing the re-recordings, the duo behind the new announcements; Northern employees:- Pete Corley and Laura Palmer; issued a video message to thank customers for their feedback.

The new recordings, which will now be rolled out across Northern's fleet of 345 trains, were required following an upgrade to on board software. Announcements also cover important topics like safety information and details of how to report suspicious behaviour and criminal acts.

In June, Corley and Palmer appealed to customers to get in touch if they had mispronounced any of the more than 500 stations on Northern's network. Debate ensued around loud E's, missing S' and silent 'ands' within station names and, as promised, they went back to the studio.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said:- "This has been such an interesting process and proof if ever it were needed of the passion our customers have for the North. Some of the stations on our network are pronounced very differently to how they appear in writing; it's important to get these things right. I'd like to thank Pete, Laura and all of the on board systems team for their persistence with this project; and to everyone that took the time to get involved and speak up for their hometown."

The 34 stations that were re-recorded were:-

Accrington
Dore and Totley
Lostock Gralam
Ardwick
Elsecar
Mossley Hill
Ashburys
Euxton Balshaw Lane
Redcar
Aspatria
Gathurst
Roose
Barnsley
Hall i' th' Wood
Slaithwaite
Barrow-in-Furness
Handforth
South Elmsall
Bentham
Heighington
Sowerby Bridge
Burneside
Hessle
Thurnscoe
Cark-in-Cartmel
Ilkeston
Todmorden
Chesterfield
Kirkham and Wesham
Wombwell
Dodworth
Langwathby
Doncaster
Lazonby and Kirkoswald

Roads are a 'holey mess'

ROADS in Sefton are deteriorating time and time again, due to increasing heavy traffic and vehicle loads.  The common issue of repeated use of heavy vehicles can often accelerate the failure of road suffices. The constant weight and impact of the loads can quickly weaken road, causing cracks to form and over time these cracks lead to potholes developing. But also, this unusual usage can also lead to drainage systems and other things below the surface to collapse, especially within areas that have sand or gravel beneath them.  It looks like this could be one of the many issues faced in Sefton, as in Formby, all the areas that are increasingly having issues appear to have had major construction near to the failures taking place.  Plus with more and more houses, the issue is made worse due to the ever increasing volumes of traffic. What ever the issue is, sink holes and other issues like this, facing to motorists in Formby, on the junction with Ward Avenue, next to the bus stop, before Woodlands Road. The location using Three Words is:- ///resort.libraries.think. Interesting next to this newly developing pothole, that is on a section that has only recently been fixed, is a damaged drain, that has collapsed on the junction opposite. Let us know your thoughts on this news topic... Email our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:-  Mastodon, Facebook or Twitter.