MTA Subway Time

Reliably pulls the info from MTA’s real-time tracking data, which I find accurate 90-95% of the time when things are running smoothly. There are glitches sometimes, but not the fault of the app. It really helps me make decisions about if and where to make a connection to another train. An obvious improvement would be for the app to detect its location so you don’t have to manually choose it. Also a favorite station section would be handy for commuters. I also think the app could be more robust recovering from the frequent loss of connection you get in the tunnels. I find I sometimes have to quit and relaunch the app to get it to refresh.

Unlike New York Subway MTA, which only shows scheduled train times, MTA Subway Time shows the same information seen in the subway system itself; that is, the actual, expected arrival times, based on current conditions. The interface is also very easy to use. I’d like to see one enhancement though. Once you select a train and a station, it would be nice to be able to quickly compare any other trains that arrive at the same station, so a commuter can more easily decide in a route change, if possible. Still, it isn’t that hard to look up alternative routes quickly, but not if you’re unfamiliar with where you are, e.g. tourists, when you might not know what other trains are available. Nevertheless, it’s a very nice app.

If you have many train options to choose from at your station, this is a great app to help you decide which train to take because you can see which trains are arriving soon at your specified station! I would love to see the app eliminate the initial screen where you have to select the subway line you’re interested in. It is really not necessary. Instead, it should simply allow you to search for the station name and show all arrivals for all lines at that station. Even better would be to show you your nearest station from where you’re located and which trains will be arriving soon!

It’s really nice that the MTA is trying here and the information is definitely more helpful than nothing, but the app could be so much better with just a little bit of work. So many simple improvements including stuff like favoriting stations, collapsible lists of stations by borough, and even service status going straight to subway service since it’s a subway app! Talk a few of the thousands of tech workers who take the subway every day and I’m sure you can improve this app very quickly and make a lot of people much happier.

While this app will show the trains on the 4, 5, and 6 lines as the physical countdown clocks do. You’ll also see randomly added trains that aren’t really there. I’ve been seeing it pretty consistently where there will be a train 7-8 minutes away in the station I’m at, and this app will also show that. But, it will also show a train 2-3 minutes away ahead of it, that isn’t even there! Very misleading, it’s either they are mixing this with the scheduled times of the train, or they are saying there are more trains running then actually are. That’s a major problem.