NETHERLANDS: Station passenger information screens have been switched from a light to a dark background, after studies found this would make then more readable for more people, as well as being more energy-efficient.
Infrastructure manager ProRail said several dark mode designs were tested in collaboration with groups for people with visual impairments. This showed that a dark mode makes the information more widely accessible, for example for people with a colour vision disorder. The dark background provides a calmer image, making it easier to read from further away and less tiring.
The fonts have also been changed, as simply changing the colours was found to cause problems with contrast.
The change has also brought an energy saving of 3% to 4%; a further saving of 30% is expected when the 3 600 information screens at Dutch stations are replaced from 2026.
Passengers with a visual impairments can also use the Perronwijzer app which shows information from the screens on their phone or reads it aloud.
