MBTA Commuter Rail Tracker
Free App
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About MBTA Commuter Rail Tracker
MBTA Commuter Rail Tracker provides experienced Boston commuters with as much information as possible about the location and status of their trains. This app is designed for seasoned commuters who are already familiar with their line schedule.
• Near real-time location information (next stop, current stop, GPS location, predicted arrival time, and vehicle speed). Please see the note below regarding accuracy.
• Boarding statuses with the track number displayed next to each trip, as well as a dedicated "Departures" view to see the entire departures board.
• "Late" status when the MBTA predicts that a train will arrive later than the scheduled time - even before a delay announcement is made.
• View historical coach numbers, boarding tracks, and lateness for you train. Are you one of those people who like to guess the track and board early? Do so with a little bit more confidence now
• Crowd-sourced data through the "Passenger Reports" feature. Is a prediction wrong? Train delayed mid-trip? Wondering if your train is standing room only? Discuss through the "Reports" button next to each trip.
• Full schedule view with predicted arrival times for each stop on your trip.
• View your train on a map, complete with rail line overlays and stop markers.
• Service alerts view.
• Easy access to the @MBTA_CR Twitter account where status updates and additional info is usually posted in the event of a delay.
• Clean, user-friendly, and ad-free interface.
--- How accurate is this app? ---
Data is sourced directly from the MBTA's real-time feeds which is collected using PTIS equipment installed on the trains. We don't make any predictions ourselves; this app is simply a UI sitting on top of the MBTA's data. That said, their data is accurate enough to give you a general idea of the status of your train but not accurate enough to set your watch by.
For example, trains generally report themselves as on time with a predicted arrival/departure time equal to the scheduled arrival/departure time so long as the train is less than 5 minutes late (the "5 minute rule"). Furthermore, if a train is delayed mid-trip it can take up to 15 minutes for the delay to propagate through the feeds. Lastly, the MBTA's data tends to operate on a 1-2 minute delay; in fact, updated GPS locations only come through in the feeds once every couple minutes.
This app is NOT affiliated with the MBTA or MassDOT. Follow us on Twitter at @MBTARailTracker for updates.
• Near real-time location information (next stop, current stop, GPS location, predicted arrival time, and vehicle speed). Please see the note below regarding accuracy.
• Boarding statuses with the track number displayed next to each trip, as well as a dedicated "Departures" view to see the entire departures board.
• "Late" status when the MBTA predicts that a train will arrive later than the scheduled time - even before a delay announcement is made.
• View historical coach numbers, boarding tracks, and lateness for you train. Are you one of those people who like to guess the track and board early? Do so with a little bit more confidence now
• Crowd-sourced data through the "Passenger Reports" feature. Is a prediction wrong? Train delayed mid-trip? Wondering if your train is standing room only? Discuss through the "Reports" button next to each trip.
• Full schedule view with predicted arrival times for each stop on your trip.
• View your train on a map, complete with rail line overlays and stop markers.
• Service alerts view.
• Easy access to the @MBTA_CR Twitter account where status updates and additional info is usually posted in the event of a delay.
• Clean, user-friendly, and ad-free interface.
--- How accurate is this app? ---
Data is sourced directly from the MBTA's real-time feeds which is collected using PTIS equipment installed on the trains. We don't make any predictions ourselves; this app is simply a UI sitting on top of the MBTA's data. That said, their data is accurate enough to give you a general idea of the status of your train but not accurate enough to set your watch by.
For example, trains generally report themselves as on time with a predicted arrival/departure time equal to the scheduled arrival/departure time so long as the train is less than 5 minutes late (the "5 minute rule"). Furthermore, if a train is delayed mid-trip it can take up to 15 minutes for the delay to propagate through the feeds. Lastly, the MBTA's data tends to operate on a 1-2 minute delay; in fact, updated GPS locations only come through in the feeds once every couple minutes.
This app is NOT affiliated with the MBTA or MassDOT. Follow us on Twitter at @MBTARailTracker for updates.
All Application Badges
Free
downl.
downl.
Android
4.1+
4.1+
Android app
App History & Updates
What's Changed
- The initial page of routes now includes a status indicator. When the indicator is green, every trip on the line is on time. When yellow, at least one trip on the line is late. When red, at least one trip on the line is either delayed or cancelled
- The departures view now includes coach numbers if available
- The app now tells you the exact time GPS coordinates were last received for a train
- Added timestamps for each user-submitted report
- Added Boston Landing station to the map
- The initial page of routes now includes a status indicator. When the indicator is green, every trip on the line is on time. When yellow, at least one trip on the line is late. When red, at least one trip on the line is either delayed or cancelled
- The departures view now includes coach numbers if available
- The app now tells you the exact time GPS coordinates were last received for a train
- Added timestamps for each user-submitted report
- Added Boston Landing station to the map
More downloads MBTA Commuter Rail Tracker reached 10 000 - 50 000 downloads
More downloads MBTA Commuter Rail Tracker reached 1 000 - 5 000 downloads
What are users saying about MBTA Commuter Rail Tracker
H
by H####:
by H####:
This is the most accurate of all the MBTA tracker apps I tried and also has some predictive information that other apps don't. Only downside is there's no shortcut view the stops you frequently use quickly. Everything is at least two clicks away. But overall this is not my go to app for commuter rail travel.
S
by S####:
by S####:
Best app for commuter rail I've found so far. Puts the official apps to shame. All the info you'll need at one place.
S
by S####:
by S####:
Love this app use it everyday
Y
by Y####:
by Y####:
Very nice app. So much better than the mbta site! Thanks!
J
by J####:
by J####:
Well done
S
by S####:
by S####:
This app has made my commute so much easier. Accuracy is better than MBTA itself, and seeing people's comments on certain trips helps when its late. Glad a fellow commuter showed me this!
W
by W####:
by W####:
Does what it says and really accurate with commuter rail trains.
B
by B####:
by B####:
Very accurate and easy to use!
S
by S####:
by S####:
0 stars
M
by M####:
by M####:
Excellent improvement over legacy apps from the state.
R
by R####:
by R####:
Amazing app. Pulls statistics on tracks at north and south station which is a huge help.
Z
by Z####:
by Z####:
Does what it says and really accurate with commuter rail trains.
M
by M####:
by M####:
Useful, accurate.
M
by M####:
by M####:
I use it all the time. No ridiculous permissions.
M
by M####:
by M####:
Very useful
M
by M####:
by M####:
Very useful
D
by D####:
by D####:
I was waiting for the rail app war to end so we can all move on to other things and this has now happened! (Near real time telemetry, maps, alerts, predictions... all of it. Well done!
M
by M####:
by M####:
It's one of the better apps for keeping track of the train that you need to catch.
M
by M####:
by M####:
By far the best MBTA Commuter Rail app out there. The most accurate, relevant comments, advance control coach numbers from South Station. Worth it's weight in gold. Multi-daily use.
M
by M####:
by M####:
Tried the others. This is the easiest to use and most accurate. Well done.
M
by M####:
by M####:
Best rail tracking app out there, and i tried many. Info is presented well, and it has full commuter rail departure list for both Boston hubs!
E
by E####:
by E####:
I love this app. Its basic, tells you everything, and isn't farming my info. Just what an MBTA scheduling app should be.
N
by N####:
by N####:
Best app I've used for the commuter rail
L
by L####:
by L####:
Makes MBTA a little more tolerable
M
by M####:
by M####:
Finally something that tells us exactly where the commuter rail is
V
by V####:
by V####:
There's no info about specific stops, so you you have to have arrival times memorized. Also, you have to pick the line you want every time you open the thing. T on Time was much easier to use and much more informative.
M
by M####:
by M####:
I just wish you could favorite a specific train at any time (and not have to wait when that train is in service).
A
by A####:
by A####:
Good
Y
by Y####:
by Y####:
Very nicely done and shockingly accurate! Use it every day. Finally, an MBTA app that works.
Y
by Y####:
by Y####:
You can fav your frequent trips. Gets key info with few clicks, but allows you to drill down for useful details like departure track history. Wish it had train vehicle history too.
D
by D####:
by D####:
Great app that I use everyday. I favorite the trains on my track that I could ride on and have stopped receiving alerts from MBTA since I don't care about 95% of them.
Y
by Y####:
by Y####:
Finally something that tells us exactly where the commuter rail is
M
by M####:
by M####:
Very accurate and easy to use!
Y
by Y####:
by Y####:
Very good use of what data is available, however spotty the MBTA may be in providing it... The app would be even better if there was a way to favorite and jump to a single route, and browse all schedules to analyze tracks, not just upcoming trains.
E
by E####:
by E####:
The app provides real time data better than any other option, unfortunately MBTA data is sketchy.
Q
by Q####:
by Q####:
Awesome app!!!!
Q
by Q####:
by Q####:
I use this daily
Q
by Q####:
by Q####:
Very accurate!!! Love it
by F####:
This is a great and surprisingly deep app that has all relevant info in one place. A must for commuters. However, as with any app providing a veneer of anonymity, watch for rude people in the comments.