As far as brand managers and graphic designers are concerned aesthetics is everything, make a lovely looking sandwich but then fill it with an out of date, ropey filling. Look at all the complaints about train seats, they draw up a super wonderful sketch and then put a plastic park seat in based solely on its look and not at all on its usability, no different to aircraft really, pack 'em in, reduce the space and don't worry about the discomfort
Removing the yellow panel is pointless, if you're waiting for a train you just want a train, forget what it looks like, you want a train that works not a little blue and white swoosh on the nose and a dynamic pattern down the side, when I nearly got squelched by a Eurostar a few years back, courtesy of an incompetent signaller, what I saw was the yellow on the nose, I don't recall noticing the lights at all and nobody will convince me that removing the yellow is anything but pure stupidity