New York City Transit to unveil countdown clocks on M, W lines

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) tomorrow will activate new real-time arrival clocks at all stations on the M and W rail lines.

After the new clocks go live, NYCT will have installed clocks at 326 of its 472 stations. By the year's end, the agency will have countdown clocks at all lettered line stations, NYCT officials said in a press release.

The countdown clock installation is a component of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) Subway Action Plan, which calls for improving customer communications and providing timely information about subway delays or emergencies.

The agency is powering the clocks with "beacon technology," which involves installing four low-energy Bluetooth beacons on each trainset and two receivers on each platform. LCD display screens at stations then use the technology to provide real-time arrival information.

Beacon technology has been deployed on stations on the C, E, G and R lines, including the recently rehabbed 53rd Street Station.

NYCT already installed clocks at all stations on the E and G lines.