Voice Enunciators

Adelaide was the first city in Australia to introduce automated passenger information. A major overhaul of the suburban passenger network in the mid to late 1980's led to most stations becoming unattended. To assist passengers with train running information, "Voice Enunciators" were introduced to perform that task. The original enunciators were provided by AWA and were of a more robust design. Later models included a simpler box design which could be affixed to a station shelter. At upgraded stations, such as Elizabeth, the enunciator was placed within the support structures of the station awning.

Enunciators were located at all stations except Adelaide, and the racecourse platforms at Gawler and Cheltenham. In later years enunciators disappeared from Tonsley and Kudla.

The next train departure information was provided when a button on the enunciator was pressed. Trains in both directions were provided, and where multiple lines exist, each line was covered. When a stopping train approached the platform, the enunciator would either announce that trains arrival (only at "junction" stations), or would commence a standard announcement (all other stations). Announcements also played in an ascending order (from least to most current departure).

Most were painted in "line" colours, but in their later days tended to be painted top to bottom. In 2005, some "Mark 1" enunciators were "scraped back" to reveal the original paintwork and labelling from the 1980's.
Since the system was installed, many stations have closed across the Adelaide network. The enunciators, however, still thought that the platforms existed. This lead to trains running "express" through Islington Works and Tube Mills on the Gawler Central Line, and Mile End Goods on the Noarlunga Centre Line. On the Grange line trains ran express through Holdens. On the Belair line the enunciators at Pinera, Glenalta, Torrens Pk and Unley Park had trains running express through Millswood, Hawthorn and Clapham.

The enunciator system was retired by February 17 2006, after approximately 20 years of faithful service to the commuters of Adelaide.

Finally....why were the enunciators referred to as "Cliff"? For those who were interested in the enunciator system, it became common practice to say you were going to "See Cliff - at Seacliff (the station)"!

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