Milaisacat
New Member
I far prefer this approach, too. One set of simple to read, consistently formatted screens showing the upcoming trains, their destinations, and time to arrival. A second set of TV screens with rolling announcements and ad reels (i.e. ancillary revenue), and functionality to show operational updates. The TTC ones look like the overly busy TVs you see in airport waiting lounges with manically scrolling chyrons, talking heads, market info, ads, weather, sports highlights, and, maybe, occasionally, some airport news.
I just object to the whole situation where budget-constrained transit systems need to depend on ancillary revenue. As a result, the character of the transit system is increasingly compromised. It was one thing to have ads in stations and on vehicles, including large ads on the side and rear. But there's a continuous arms race to more completely dominate the vehicle, culminating with full-bus/streetcar/train wraps that cover the windows. That's unconscionable, and you just know the TTC, GO, etc., are not getting anywhere near fair market value for attention-commanding billboard-sized ad space in the most high-prized locations of the city. If the character of our public spaces and institutions doesn't matter a damn, why not put up a row of billboards in front of schools and civic buildings, too, and encircle parks with ad-covered hoarding?
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