Digital custom voice created by Acapela Group will guide London Underground passengers on the Piccadilly line

The custom voice was specifically created for Transport for London (TfL), the integrated transport authority responsible for the day-to-day operation of the capital’s public transport network.

Acapela Group, a leader in AI-based speech synthesis, is proud to announce the creation of Elloise, a synthetic British voice, which will inform passengers travelling on the new fleet of trains on the London Underground’s Piccadilly line from the end of 2025. The Underground line is one of the capital’s busiest, with tens of millions of passengers each year.

The Piccadilly line opened on December 15, 1906, and first served Heathrow Airport from 1977. From 2025, Elloise’s voice, created by Acapela Group, will provide real-time information to passengers using the line.

London Underground will introduce 94 new trains on the Piccadilly line from the end of next year, and Acapela’s text to speech voice will help to keep passengers informed on their journeys. Elloise is ready to take position on the Piccadilly line, delivering real-time information with a pleasant, clear voice, contributing to a smooth and comfortable journey.
From Cockfosters to Heathrow Airport, Elloise will provide information and reassurance to passengers. Her voice will contribute to making trips safer and more enjoyable by delivering personalized audio information from departure to arrival.

Embark on a journey of innovation and inclusion

Elloise’s voice will facilitate the journey of all passengers, including individuals with disabilities. This is an essential focus for Acapela Group, which is a fully owned and independent subsidiary of Tobii Dynavox, the world leader in assistive communication. Their joint focus is to help individuals with disabilities live more independent and purposeful lives.

Elloise extends a welcoming hand to passengers

Elloise is ready to speak. You can listen to some voice samples, ahead of the new fleet of Piccadilly line trains entering service in London from the end of 2025.

Acapela voices are designed to answer to the diverse needs of transport operators across the globe, in particular to improve the pronunciation of metro station and bus stop names. With its advanced lexicon tool, station names and terminology can be controlled, modified, and adapted in all languages, so they’re easier for international audiences to understand.

“We are proud to be part of this project. This is a prestigious new reference that further confirms the relevance of our offering for public transportation. DB, BVG, Vastrafik, ONCF or Trafikverket are among the many stakeholders who have already chosen to inform their passengers with a branded voice they instantly recognize. We will continue to progress in this direction, offering public transportation players efficient tools and services tailored to their needs”, comments Remy Cadic, CEO of Acapela Group.

Tim Morrison, Head of the Piccadilly Line Upgrade at TfL, said: “The new state-of-the-art Piccadilly line trains, which will start serving London from the end of 2025, will include a range of customer-focused improvements which will transform journeys on the line. The automated voice announcements have been developed using our latest customer research and will give us greater flexibility in creating new announcements or amending existing ones, quickly and cost effectively. The new trains will also feature walk-through air-conditioned carriages, wider doorways, enhanced digital display screens, improved step-free access from platform to train and will also increase capacity by around 10 per cent.”

Notes to Editors:

The history of the London Underground dates back to 1863 when the world’s first underground railway, the Metropolitan Railway, opened between Paddington and Farringdon, serving six intermediate stations. Since then, the Tube, as it’s affectionately known by Londoners, has expanded to 272 stations and 11 lines, reaching deep into the capital’s suburbs and beyond.

Established in 2000 as part of the Greater London Authority (GLA), Transport for London (TfL) is the integrated transport authority responsible for delivering Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s strategy and commitments on transport, and the day-to-day operation of the Capital’s public transport network. This includes London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, London Buses and Elizabeth line services, as well as managing London’s main roads.