Camden New Journal - Letters: The next station is...

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Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 27 September 2007

The next station is...

• I JUST want to congratulate the bright sparks at Belsize Park Tube station who have commissioned the new Tannoy announcements.
It is just what we weary workers need. No longer is my 7.45 commute a bookish affair. Now it is a sonic wake up call I’ve much needed all these years.
The volume is good and loud. It must have taken lots of vigorous testing on combat zone soldiers or hardened oil riggers. Indeed, not only are the announcements broadcast at a level which makes veteran iPod wearers sit up and take notice, I’ve witnessed fellow commuters, day trippers and chattering school children actually cower from the frequently dispatched sonic booms. I can only look on in admiration. Not even the deafest Underground mouse will be in any doubt as to when the next train is coming, or puzzle over its final destination.
The new system is also a boon for those of us who can’t quite make out the overhead neon matrix displays, or any of the large maps pasted at the station. If only the Paris and New York transport systems would continually alert their customers in a manner like ours.
In fact, I was saying to my wife the other day that Tube chiefs should be put in charge of shopping malls and the like. A thoughtfully placed public address system could declare Your next shop on the left will be Woolworths. Or how about if there were a man (or woman), wielding a loud hailer outside every public house in the land?
So if you happen to be passing don’t forget to drop by and let the gang at Belsize Park know what a great job they’re doing. They really are bringing the Underground into the 21st century.
Duke Weston
Belsize Village, NW3

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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