Simple tips to help MTR cut back on its announcements
I refer to the letter by James Tsui, of the MTR Corporation ('Announcements help visually impaired', March 28).
Mr Tsui was replying to D. Orelice's letter ('MTR Corp has gone over the top with stream of announcements', February 28).
Commuters travelling on MTR trains are bombarded constantly throughout their journey to and from work or school. D. Orelice calculated more than 15,000 messages per year (commuting from Tung Chung to Causeway Bay). While there may be a need to provide audible announcements for visually impaired commuters, the MTR can help by only announcing the next destination when arriving at a station and drop announcements presently blasted out as trains depart the previous station. Secondly, the announcements can be shortened to reduce the quantity of information. For example, at interchange stations we do not need to be told about what line we can change to. In addition, trains on the Tung Chung line always arrive at the same platform except for Hong Kong and Tung Chung stations, so drop the left and right side announcements.
Thirdly, KCRC trains had quiet coaches so I propose the first and last MTR compartments be havens of tranquillity only to be disturbed in an emergency. Finally, I assume visually impaired commuters could be identified as they pass through turnstiles at stations by a particular type of Octopus card. This could help the MTR know just how many of them are in their network at any time if people needed to be evacuated because of a fire or breakdown.
Craig Sanderson, Lantau
