They also have over 450 stations, many of which have multiple platforms, serving multiple different services with multiple different destinations that change by time of day, as well as local/express, etc.

It's a much more complicated system that I would expect to take a decade to implement, although it is worth noting that many Manhattan stations already have countdown signs, and in fact IIRC they may have had them before the T.

NYC has countdown clocks on

By anon on Mon, 05/11/2015 - 8:16pm.

NYC has countdown clocks on the numbered trains (the IRT division), as well as the L line.

They also implemented it much better than Boston. For example, NYC always places a sign at the top of the staircase, so it's visible not just before you pay, but before you even leave the street.

For most Boston stations, you don't know about a delay until you've paid and descended to the platform. And when there's a disruption, planned or not, the signs are usually blank.

This has been turned on for a

By fox_orian on Mon, 05/11/2015 - 9:26am.

This has been turned on for a week or two now at Resevoir. It's so strange to hear an announcement for a Green Line train approaching.

Wow

By Jdubbs on Mon, 05/11/2015 - 10:08am.

A bold step into 1999. Welcome.

More precisely

By anon on Mon, 05/11/2015 - 11:04am.

More precisely, Brookline residents can see that a train, if its moving (which it isn't), is 4min away, and another, if its moving (which it isn't), is 8min away. 20min later, these trains are still 4min and 8min away.

Oh, and it's 8:13 in the morning.

MBTA real-time data

By Andrew N on Mon, 05/11/2015 - 4:23pm.

MBTA also released real-time arrival predictions data for D branch stops and "Green Line Tracker" app for android is using this. More green lines/stops coming soon.