Should a recorded voice apologise?

[PeachesMcLean]

I had the pleasure of travelling by rail today.

At two stations, there were announcements from one of those recorded voices which went along the following lines:

"I am sorry to announce that the xxxtime train to xxx will be 10 minutes late arriving at xxx. I am sorry for this delay."

If it was a particularly long delay, you'd get "I am very sorry for this delay".

I even heard one "I am extremely sorry for this delay". (Glad I wasn't catching that train!)

Now, is it me or am I being unreasonable in thinking that a recorded voice should not be taking responsibility for the delay in services. And that apologies from a recorded voice are a bit feeble. Shouldn't it be "Virgin Trains apologise for xxx"? Because if they can digitally sandwich together the times and destination into a sensible sentence, surely they can put in the train operator as well?

[SenoraPostrophe]

are they pre-recorded though? I thought they were made by whoever happened to be sitting in the office when the message came in. usually they're eating their sandwiches, which is why so many announcements talk of the 2pm train to mmmmphmmm.

that's what I thought anyway. and whoever it is probably is very sorry, as it will have interrupted their munching.

[SenoraPostrophe]

praps they're pre-recorded down there in the sophisticated south. is that where you are?

[southeastastra]

weird but i suppose they don't want to say 'midland mainline is sorry', so you feel sorry for the individual announcing. if that makes sense

[PeachesMcLean]

I'm mostly in Wales but I know they're recorded here too cos the man who did the voice was in the paper the other day. They're recorded digitally then pieced together according to the message, with a few stock phrases.

These were in Bristol and Birmingham and were very "received pronunciation" I have to say. Just seemed mad that a recording was apologising to me in the first person.

[PeachesMcLean]

I've spent too much time standing around today haven't I?

[SenoraPostrophe]

right. admiteddly, I have been on 3 train journeys in the uk in the last 10 years so perhaps it passed me by. or perhaps wales is more sophisticated than it was.

maybe the man was very sorry when he recorded that bit?

[SenoraPostrophe]

but yes, you have spent too much time standing around

[IorekByrnison]

I couldn't agree more, Peaches. This drives me fucking nuts.

Just who is this pre-recorded person with her regretful RADA inflections pretending to be? The Goddess of Rail? How is it supposed to make anyone feel better about the fact that their working day is being sabotaged yet again by piss poor service? It is stunningly infuriating.

[Threadworm]

We usually have a real person on our line.

But they don't use real language.

How about 'Would passengers please remember to uplift [!!!!!] their baggage before alighting.'

Gaahhh!

[IorekByrnison]

lol at uplifting baggage. How would you do that exactly? Read them some edifying verses?

But at least your person is real, Threadworm. At least there is something human about their attempt to speak in a way that conforms to corporate expectations.

It's the horrible ersatz humanity that is so offensive about the pre-recorded "personal" message.

[PeachesMcLean]

LOL at Goddess of Rail. At least that would explain the personal apology.

[SenoraPostrophe]

if the tannoy told me to uplift my baggage i think it would make my day.