New station announcements in the S-Bahn

Have you noticed that the S-Bahns now announce which way to disembark at most stations, not just the main stations in the tunnel? 'S-Bahn Takt Magazin' reveals more ..

Due to a change in the software, a request from blind and visually impaired passengers on the S-Bahn has been fulfilled.

An automatic announcement informing the side of the carriage to exit the S-Bahn was implemented a few weeks ago at all S-Bahn stations. As the new S-Bahn carriages are notably quieter and there is less noise from air pressure when the doors are open, associations for the disabled have repeatedly requested that the side of the carriage to be used when disembarking should be announced. This is now possible technically.

There are, however, a few exceptions. Stations which frequently change platforms thus the side of the carriage to be used will not have announcements. Amongst these stations are Ostbahnhof, Pasing, Buchenau, Markt Schwaben and Puchheim (to an extent). Tourists will also benefit from this improvement.

(Translated from S-Bahn Takt Magazin, Issue Sept/Oct 05).

...and what are they saying?

It sounds like "bitte insfahren links" or "intfahren" or "in fahren"- I can't work it out.

LEO does not seem to regognise this word or phrase, so am I mishearing it.

RT - the fluent German speaker

Though this may not be exact, I believe it's "Bitte im Fahrrichtung links aussteigen". Meaning, exit on the left, left being when facing the direction the train is moving.

Ahhh...

'kin obvious really...

That's ok...for the longest time Tom and I kept hearing 'Es versteht Anschluss' (which made no sense) when it's 'besteht' So many similar verbs...arrrrgh

"Bitte in Fahrtrichtung links aussteigen".
[/pedant]

Oh yeah, forgot the T that makes the whole thing far more amusing.

I used to think that the "voice" was saying "dieser Zug endet DOCH. Bitte hier aussteigen". Didn't get the "DORT" part and was always thinking, hey lady, sei nicht so ruppig. I'm getting off already!

I find the Officer-Crabtree-esque pronounciation of "Passengers" more amusing.

"All pissengers please disembark here".

Another one I have only just recently worked out, on the tram, coming into Stachus is says you can change to the "U-Bahn sowieso S-Bahn" I learnt on a german course that sowieso meant obviously... So it seemed like it meant "U-Bahn and obviously S-bahn as well.. durrrr". So I just realised its actually sowie zu (also to) S-Bahn... DOH!

"Good moaning"

That's funny SHe also can't pronounce 'change' properly either. I don't know why they don't just get a mothertongue to do it.

She also says: 'Services in the direction to...' and not '.. in the direction of...'

Geeezzz, whith all the complaints about the english announcements, why not offer your services to MVV to redo them...

Well maybe if they asked some expert ie native speaker advice (and some people might even offer it for free for public services) then they'd get better translations.

I spent time thinking last night how the safety advice to women at the Wies'n could have been better written.

Shouldn't that be "All pissingers please disembonk here"?

Bitte Rechts aussteigen

I think if the intended audience is international non-german speakers who use english as a common language, rather than actual native english speakers, it works out pretty well to have a non native speaker pronounce it.

I am sure any non-native english speaker would rather hear the s-bahn chicks pronounciation than say, mine.

Its like me and german, I used to find, and still do to a lesser extent, non-native speakers easier to understand than the locals.

I find the s-bahn chicks english very clear, well pronounced and easy to understand.

Could well be right there Kza, bur certainly the written stuff (like the police safety stuff) could be written in English that was simple. easy for everyone who uses to English ti understand , but gramatically correct.

Tuesday Random Trivia:

The "the s-bahn chick" is a professional actress/singer called Sabine Bundschu.



There's an article about her, and the S-Bahn announcements, in this month's issue of the MVG's "Linie 8" magazine.