The full list of TfL messages you can hear on the London Underground

A TfL spokesperson told Metro: ‘As part of our routine testing procedures, this announcement was played during engineering hours when the station was closed to the public. 

‘The announcement was created a number of years ago, and was carefully developed and tested with input from the Department for Transport, the National Protective Security Authority and British Transport Police to ensure that it works to keep people safe. 

‘London’s transport network is a safe, low-crime environment and we work closely with the police and emergency services to prepare for extremely rare incidents.

‘All our front-line operational staff are trained to respond to emergencies and incidents on the network.’

Meanwhile, lukesworld_ pointed out: ‘Inspector Sands works well, surely something like that would be so, so much better than “evade attackers.”‘

UnregisteredSarcasm added: ‘”While evading attackers” is a little more video game than I’d like.’

Phillipwhiuk wrote: ‘That’s gonna get triggered by accident at some point…’

Emergency fire

If there is a fire on a station or train, passengers will hear an announcement that states: ‘Due to a reported emergency, this station is being evacuated – please leave the station immediately.’

The precise wording of this may vary but it could be an automated announcement or an announcement from a member of staff.

Passengers may be told to leave the station at street level or by train and follow exit signs unless told to do otherwise by staff.

Staff will tell passengers the safest route to follow to avoid a fire or other emergency.

People will be told to take bags and other belongings with them too unless told otherwise.

Emergency incidents on trains

Staff will aim to get passengers off trains immediately if there is an ongoing incident on a London Underground train.

Passengers will hear an announcement that states: ‘Attention. This train and station are now being evacuated. Please leave the train and exit the station. Follow any instructions given by staff.’

If the incident happens in a tunnel, the train will continue to the next station and then come to a stop.

When people arrive at the station, they will then hear announcements directing them to the nearest exit.

Police and TfL staff could be at the station when the train arrives and customers should follow instructions given.

Inspector Sands

Inspector Sands announcements are used on the London Underground network and also Network Rail train stations too.

Usually passengers will hear the wording: ‘Would Inspector Sands please report to…’

Inspector Sands is a code phrase to alert staff to a fire alarm without needing to evacuate the station.

The automated public address announcement can be generated automatically by the station’s fire warning system, or can be triggered from the station control.

Warning for pickpockets

In busy station areas like Liverpool Street, Kings Cross St Pancras, Victoria, Waterloo, Euston and Paddington, passengers will hear an announcement warning about pickpockets.

It will say: ‘Please keep your belongings safe, pickpockets operate at this station.’

This is to warn people about the threat of crime at busy station and to keep an eye on their belongings at all times.

See it, say it, sorted

This is one of the most popular announcements heard on both the London Underground network and on Network Rail trains.

This is part of a British Transport Police (BTP) initiative to encourage passengers to keep themselves and others safe by reporting unusual items or activity.

The announcement will sound like: ‘If you see something that doesn’t look right, speak to staff, or text British Transport Police on 61016 and we’ll get it sorted, that’s 61016. See it, say it, sorted.’

Signal issue

There’s nothing worse than commuting home, the train stops and then you hear you are stuck because of a red signal.

Usually the announcement goes somewhere along the lines like: ‘We are currently being held at a red signal and should be on the move shortly.’

Most of the time it usually clears up in five minutes or so and the train is on its way again.

But sometimes it leads to severe delays and unhappy commuters.

Mind the gap

The most famous announcement on the London Underground network – ‘mind the gap’.

While tourists might ask what on earth it means, Londoners and regular visitors know it is a safety warning encouraging passengers to mind the gap between the train and the platform edge.

The first ‘mind the gap’ announcement was heard in 1969 and was recorded by sound engineer Peter Lodge.