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 Es, 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 & 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 & Kirkoswald |
Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.
