MTA TrainTime

Train Time is great for listing departure tracks at Grand Central, but can be inaccurate at stations farther out. At Southeast, NY, commonly, Grand-Central-bound trains depart from Track 2 and Wassaic-bound depart from Track 1. Fairly often, Metro-North’s operations people reverse these tracks, causing inexperienced Wassaic passengers to get on an electrically-powered train on Track 1 - listed as Wassaic on the Southeast departure screens and on Train Time as Track 1, both of which are wrong. An experienced commuter like me knows that only Diesel trains can travel north of Southeast. This is not a software bug. It is an operations error not to update the Southeast screens and Train Time when the tracks are reversed. I commute through Southeast only about once a week, and I have seen non-posted track changes like this occur twice in the same month.

This can’t be a public transport app. It’s too well-designed. It’s like competent programmers were hired who had a wishlist of design ideas that they wanted to implement from using the MNR and LIRR, and then they actually got to implement it. I feel like user feedback may have also been not only sought out in the testing phases, but also *gasp* implemented. From matching up potential tickets to the train time all in one place to carriage occupancy estimates to showing you any schedule info you might not need (including for the train you’re on, which many apps seem to forget you might need for your post-train journey!), this app has it all. This is a fine example of excellent UX Design, and I wish I had some improvement suggestions, but nope! Keep up the great work.

MTA service improvements in recent months have been a big plus to riders. The Train Time app is now very user-friendly and it is easy to navigate among the varied functions eg train time departures and arrivals, track numbers, train/train line status, ticket prices, best cost deal suggestions, and ticket purchases. Confusing graphics and ambiguous icons have been eliminated. The only issue is that the “window” for ticket purchases contains graphics that prominently display the icon for use of Apple Pay to make purchases which is clearly to the disadvantage of consumers. MTAs train service is very much improved insofar as on time service and absence of delays and sufficient numbers of train cars. Excellent improvements in the last few months have not escaped my attention. I’ve been an MTA rider on MNRR, subways and LIRR for 36+ years so I know when there has been a marked step up in general service.