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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/05/the-death-of-the-formal-train-announcement-is-a-tragedy/

‘Pregnant people’? Even rail chiefs have bowed to the woke god of inclusivity. Bit by bit, the English language is being dismantled.

In the latest example of bowing down before the twin woke gods of Accessibility and Inclusivity, Network Rail has told staff not to call passengers “passengers”. They are advised to use the word “you” instead – a “neutral term that avoids assumptions about gender”, apparently, although that’s rubbish because “passenger” doesn’t denote a sex – clearly something they want to avoid at all costs. Henceforth, pregnant women on trains – or should that be trans? – must be called “pregnant people”, while mother and father are replaced with “parent” in any written or spoken communication. Mankind changes to the monstrosity, “humankind”. And normal is now “neurotypical”. Perhaps Liam Halligan and I should switch the name of our podcast to Planet Neurotypical – doesn’t have quite the same ring, does it? Other words marked for the axe in Network Rail’s new 134-page training manual – ironically entitled “Speaking Passenger” – include “purchase”, “obtain” and “rest assured”. Using “less formal language” turns out to be a “bid to reduce customer frustration at train delays and cancellations”. A better way of doing that, of course, would be to make the railways run on time.

https://archive.ph/jibAh#selection-3003.0-3033.1

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