Equipment Onboard The Metra Trains?

Onboard metra passenger cars, I have always wondered, when you hear the electronic voice saying now approaching chicago union station, our next stop is chicago union station, and also saying other things as well, does the engineer/conductor hit a button that makes it say it, or does it say it automatically, and while waiting at a metra train stop, once our train arrived it didnt look like it was going to stop, and was wondering how was it able to stop in time after going so fast?
and one last question, at chicago union station, most railfans especially in chicago know that directly outside the interior of the station there are tons of track switches, and was wondering who controls those switches and where are those people that control the switches located?
thank you

1- It is my understanding that those automatic announcements are automatic, and actuated by GPS position of the train. There were lots of complaints, when the system was initially rolled out, about announcements being made in imprecise or nonsensical locations. To this day, some conductors prefer to disable the auto announcements and instead do the job manually.

2- Passenger train brakes are generally very good, provided they are maintained to proper standards, and weather conditions are decent. The engineers also have a lot of practice. The best timekeeping, to help maintain the schedule, is basically going from throttle-8 to full braking (with a few steps inbetween to control slack action). In commuter service, everything comes down to timing. It is all up to the engineer's judgment, and some will take it easier than others.

3- All automatic switches on the south end of CUS (up until Roosevelt Rd on mains 1 & 2, and 21st Street on the other mains) are controlled by the Amtrak "CUS South" control operator. This includes all switches/ladders inside the trainshed as well as the ones outdoors between Taylor St and Roosevelt Rd. This same operators also controls the Chicago River drawbridge, one of three north legs of the wye, and both of the 2 south legs of the wye. To ensure proper and timely routing of trains, he is expected to stay in communication with CUS North, BNSF Union Ave, 16th St. Tower, Norfolk Southern, CN Desk 1, Metra, and other operators/dispatchers/yardmasters.