MBTA Introduces Train Countdown Displays At South Station

Boston area commuters who catch the train at South Station can now figure out how much time they have before their train rolls up to the platform.

The MBTA on Wednesday is scheduled to activate countdown signs that tell riders when the next trains will arrive, the start of a pilot program that could be extended to all 51 Red, Orange, and Blue Line stations by the end of the year.

The arrival times, ticking down in one-minute increments, will appear on LED signs that have hung above platforms and in station lobbies since 2007 but that until now have displayed only the date, time and announcements.