Train announcements reduced

First Great Western is to cut the number of announcements on its trains. By the end of this month it will have re-trained 1,000 staff to keep them relevant and brief.

Passengers have long said many are annoying, pointless and repetitive.

Even Transport Minister Norman Baker has urged train operators to curb "excessive" announcements.

In this report we talk to David Crone of First Great Western and George Bentley a Train Manager who makes announcements on the line to Paddington, and hear from Passengers.

Repetitive on board announcements on trains in the Thames Valley will be scrapped after years of passenger's complaints.

First Great Western are retraining one thousand staff to keep their messages to the point after the company's research showed their excessive guard announcements were causing customers to switch off.

First Great Western have decided to reduced the number of announcements made on train journeys, following pressure from passengers. Research carried out by the train provider found, half of passengers don't listen to them.