On 2015\10\23 21:59, Richard J. wrote:
Basil Jet wrote on 23 Oct 2015 at 20:47 ...
On 2015\10\23 17:17, wrote:
In article ,
(Basil Jet)
wrote:

I travelled on the Gospel Oak - Barking line earlier in the week, and
was annoyed by the fact that half of one of the windows was taken up
by a panel of some sort. Later I realised that this was an electronic
destination display, facing outward. Why is it on the window, when
they have a whole train to put it on? And why is it so big? The text
display is only a few inches tall, but the panel holding it literally
occupies half of the window. I later saw the same thing on the
Caterham line and on the East London Line, so sacrificing half a
window for a few inches of display seems to be the norm now. Do train
designers even know what windows are for?

I'm surprised you've not noticed the same on all the Electrostars and
Turbostars as well as the Desiros, but not on the S stock.

I did notice that the S stock have a tidy sign above the door, which is
where I'd put it.

The S stock signs are indeed neat and tidy, but are above the windows.
See http://citytransport.info/Digi/P1300429a.jpg
The display alternates between the line name and the destination.

Thanks. It's a shame it doesn't just display the destination, in green,
yellow or pink.

Basil Jet wrote:
On 2015\10\23 21:59, Richard J. wrote:
Basil Jet wrote on 23 Oct 2015 at 20:47 ...
On 2015\10\23 17:17, wrote:
In article ,
(Basil Jet)
wrote:

I travelled on the Gospel Oak - Barking line earlier in the week, and
was annoyed by the fact that half of one of the windows was taken up
by a panel of some sort. Later I realised that this was an electronic
destination display, facing outward. Why is it on the window, when
they have a whole train to put it on? And why is it so big? The text
display is only a few inches tall, but the panel holding it literally
occupies half of the window. I later saw the same thing on the
Caterham line and on the East London Line, so sacrificing half a
window for a few inches of display seems to be the norm now. Do train
designers even know what windows are for?

I'm surprised you've not noticed the same on all the Electrostars and
Turbostars as well as the Desiros, but not on the S stock.

I did notice that the S stock have a tidy sign above the door, which is
where I'd put it.

The S stock signs are indeed neat and tidy, but are above the windows.
See http://citytransport.info/Digi/P1300429a.jpg
The display alternates between the line name and the destination.

Thanks. It's a shame it doesn't just display the destination, in green,
yellow or pink.

Yes, that would be a clear improvement. I've seen multicolour destination
boards on trams in other countries.

Paul Corfield wrote:
On Fri, 23 Oct 2015 22:04:40 +0000 (UTC), Recliner
wrote:

Basil Jet wrote:

Thanks. It's a shame it doesn't just display the destination, in green,
yellow or pink.

Yes, that would be a clear improvement. I've seen multicolour destination
boards on trams in other countries.

Provided you can actually distinguish the colours and understand their
use. A pointless change, for some, if you can't tell the colours
apart or get them confused.

Surely one colour and the train saying / displaying the name of the
line it is working is the more inclusive and sensible option? Perhaps
that's why things are done that way?


The name of the line isn't enough. You need the actual destination,
particularly with the District or Met lines. I would have thought that
white text on an appropriate colour background would be best.