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Friday 26 Feb 2016

‘Ta ra, bab’ – Birmingham New Street loses its voice as station announcer moves on after 30 years

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

The man who has provided the 'voice of Birmingham New Street' for over quarter of a century is announcing his own departure from the station today (Friday 26 February) - but his legacy will linger.

Andy Smith’s voice has been reverberating around Birmingham New Street for the past 29 years in his role as station announcer.  

Andy, who lives in Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham, started work on the railway on a British Rail youth training scheme in September 1986. Since then as well as being a train announcer he has also been employed as a train planner and station project team member, the latter being one of Andy’s most  challenging, enjoyable and rewarding experiences.

For almost 30 years, though, he was the voice of New Street, first through manual public address announcements and then through recorded announcements. Hundreds of millions of passengers will have heard him describing train departures and arrivals at one of Britain's busiest stations over that time.

Although he is leaving his role as station announcer he is staying with Network Rail and training to be a signaller, helping move hundreds of trains carrying thousands of people safely and reliably around the West Midlands each day.

Andy said: “Birmingham New Street is somewhere I feel really passionate about. I’m mighty proud to be part of Birmingham New Street and its history and will miss it greatly. I think leaving now is apt following the rejuvenation of the station to the fabulous iconic building it is today.

“I’m hoping to make it back to New Street signal box and signal trains here so I will still be part of the station.”

But his dulcet tones will not become an echo of the past as his many recorded announcements will continue to be used for years to come.