I disagree - I find LEDs (as distinct from flipdot displays) far
easier to read from a distance than blinds due to the very high
contrast. Because they are operationally easier, as well, it is more

likely that they will be set correctly, which given that nobody is
pefect is a significant benefit.

What about the backlit (LCD?) type displays that are in use in other
parts of Europe? These give really superior contrast to either the
front-lit flipdot type or LEDs (which, IMO, always look too dark.)
Albeit with a slight drop of contrast when viewed at extreme angles.

And, as for roller-blind displays, they are completely unreadable
when they get dirty. Changing them all to a funny yellow colour in
the mid-90s didn't help. (Wasn't that about the time that the rest of
the continent started digitizing its displays?)

I agree. An LED display would have to be *very* high resolution to
even approach the legibility of a blind.

But we're talking about the bendy-buses here, not the Routemasters
they have (sadly) replaced. These usually only have one line of text
on the display, the destination, am I right? The types of digital
displays in use on buses all over Europe (and occasionally even in
the UK!) are more than adequate for this.

Anyway, Routemasters are meant to be modern buses, right? Printed
destination blinds look comically out of place.

Next stop announcements, if done sensibly (just the name, not the
rest of the doors opening/closing nonsense...

They do this in Berlin. But hang on, aren't we talking about a
_bus_ here? There are only doors on one side, so what's the
use of telling passengers which side to get out? ;-) Otherwise,
the direction could be indicated by an arrow on the internal
display that even foreigners could understand (oh hang on... they
haven't got those yet -- ooh, modern technology!)

...which if required should IMO be
distinct tones common across all transport modes) would be
excellent, I agree.

My experiences of the transport system in Vienna is that announcements
on all lines are recorded by the same announcer, who sounds as if
he's got something stuck up his ar*e. At least the Badner Bahn,
which also runs to Vienna, has a rather friendlier female voice.
Not to mention that the displays on the new-generation trams and
buses are brilliant too.