Which AFC color indicates Out of Service?

• A. Black
• B. Gray
• C. Orange
• D. Red

Answer: (C)

Color cues on AFC equipment are used to convey status at a glance. When a unit is out of service, orange is used because it is highly visible and communicates a temporary, non-operational condition without implying an immediate safety issue.

Seeing orange tells staff and riders that this particular device isn’t usable right now and that they should switch to a functioning gate or kiosk. Red, by contrast, typically signals a fault or danger requiring urgent attention, while black or gray are generally associated with other states like closed, inactive, or offline—neither of which conveys the same temporary out-of-service status as orange.

So, orange is the best indicator for Out of Service because it clearly signals a temporary non-operational status in a way that’s easy to notice without signaling an emergency.