The MTA is the agency that New Yorkers love to hate, in part because bus and subway fares keep going up.
But the MTA recently introduced a service that could save you quite a bit of time.
Its new app, which also works on your computer desktop, allows you to see when the next 1, 2 or 3 train is coming. It’s exactly like the countdown clocks in the subway, except it fits in your hand.
The 1, 2 and 3 are pretty reliable, but later at night the trains can be few and far between. The new app wil let you know when the next train is coming before you leave home or a party, so you can better time your departure. To download the app, click here. To use the service on your computer, click here. (One caveat: it looks like it only works on Apple devices for now)
Update: We’ve added a new link for the app. Hopefully it will work. Sorry for any confusion!
“The days of rushing to a subway station only to find yourself waiting motionless in a state of uncertainty are coming to an end,” said MTA Chairman Joe Lhota.
So far, the MTA only offers the service on the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and the S shuttle. But other lines could soon join the roster.
So let us say this before the agency disappoints us again: Thanks MTA!
This is a great innovation. Now, can we have them for buses, too? Boston has more than one very handy app for bus availability, imminence, etc.
Thanks.
MS
We’ve been using NEXT STOP NY for months–has all the train lines, is very reliable and works everywhere.
I tried to download the app on my iPhone 4S and it said “device not supported”.
Link to download the App, didn’t work. I have iPhone, alert came up saying ‘Device not supported by this App’
So how else may I get it?
Nah, the train comes when it comes, whether I am informed of this 3 minutes in advance or not.
Ah, NextStop, for $2.99 has real functionality instead of being a quickie hack like this freebie. It lists countdown timers for multiple stations you specifically assign to track, in addition to also having a nearby listing, a clickable map, and optional alerts for delays.
UPDATE: reviews for NextStop actually say the times are not accurate.
UPDATE: today’s new version update added “real time” data to NextStop, they claim.
Search for “MTA Subway Time” in the app store. Clicking on the links in the article from your iPhone will bring up the “Device not supported” error, because it takes you to the desktop version. Once you download it from the app store, it works 🙂
Forget the fancy countdown clock. Maybe one day the MTA can figure out how to fix the accuracy of the voice announcements on the B, C line. The train always seems to be two stations away.