Differentiating whole route cancellations from trains with reduced routes

[whole diary]

[grahame]

The choice of colours on the cancellation map at the top left of most forum pages is something I set up when the maps were first added and has been tweaked occasionally since.  Most recent, trains that were running but with formation changes were changed to pink so that they are now clearly visible but not overpowering of cancellations.

Whole route cancellations are red, and until a few minutes ago part route cancellations were in a similar colour - comment made that perhaps that those two colours were too close.  As an experiment, I have change the partial route colour to a grey and would welcome your input as to which you prefer.  I can then go with the majority for Christmas on onwards.

I am, of course, hoping for a cancellation-free week that make it very difficult for you to see any difference, but fear that is just a dream.

[JayMac]

In all honesty, I've hardly ever referred to the map for information regarding current disruption. 99% of the time I view the forum from a mobile device. The map is small (even after clicking on) and, thanks to the woeful state of the railways currently, nearly always too cluttered to be easily read and disseminated.

[IndustryInsider]

Yeah, same here.  A quick glance at it gives an idea how things are generally running, but I then go straight to other sources for more details.  So individual colours don't really matter much to me and the straight lines make it difficult to interpret anyway.

[grahame]

I prefer part routes in off-red   - 0 (0%)
I prefer part routes in grey   - 5 (62.5%)
I have no preference   - 3 (37.5%)
Something else   - 0 (0%)

The tiny number of votes and extra comments suggest that this is a matter of supreme unimportance!   And that for those for whom it does matter, the new grey look is the better one. So it will stay.

I read it (and would agree) that the main us of the map is to give a very quick flag as to whether there are major issues or not, and that the detail is then read (if necessary) by drilling down and not from detailed examination of the lines on the map, and as such the colours - provided there is an element of contrast - don't matter!