Scolling Displays at FHD

Since the widespread introduction of LED displays to the First Hants & Dorset in 2007, they have all received the same standard layout - as illustrated below by former First Hants & Dorset Volvo B7RLE 66955 (WX55TZS).

66955 illustrates the standard layout of the LED display until very recently - route number on the right, with the destination in large lower case letters above the via points, which flicker between one another. She is pictured in December last year, in The Hard, just about to depart on route 17. 66955 was acquired on loan from First Somerset & Avon, and now is in operation in Glasgow.

An increasing number of LED displays are now scrolling the via points below the ultimate destination. All three depots have been affected in this way - with usually the more recently updated routes receiving the new scrolling layout. Older routes or those unaffected by recent route changes appear to still be displayed similarly to 66955 above.

Two examples here - first up Portswood based Dennis Dart SLF 42513 (R413WPX), pictured at Hedge End Superstores back in October. Route 8A has recently been changed so that all journeys terminate at Southampton city centre, with the intention of improving reliability over the whole of route 8/8A.



Secondly, here is recently acquired Volvo B7RLE 66883 (MX55HHP), pictured in Millbrook yesterday. Route 17 in Southampton has just been rerouted via Adanac Park during the weekdays, which explains the change to the scrolling display. All of the 10 former Devon & Cornwall Volvo B7RLEs are in service with FHD now - 66881 at Weymouth (although it is due to move up this month), and the other 9 at Empress Road.

I personally liked the previous layout, which gave a clear and detailed explanation of where the bus was going. The new scrolling layout is smaller (although one could argue slightly smarter) in size, and gives fewer "via points", but still looks good and does its job just as well. What do you think?