MBTA Orange Line Cell Phone Service

MBTA General Manager Richard Davey announced a customer convenience for Orange Line riders providing for the first time wireless telephone services along the entire Orange Line underground corridor.  Orange Line customers can use their wireless devices from end to end of the orange line, including 19 stations. 

A call can now be held continuously in all the underground sections of the Orange Line from Massachusetts Avenue through Back Bay, New England Medical, Chinatown, Downtown Crossing, State Street, Haymarket, North Station, and under the Charles River to Community College.   T-Mobile and AT&T will provide service at these locations.

In December 2007, the MBTA became one of the first subway systems in the country to provide underground wireless telephone service with wireless telephone service at four key downtown locations and in the connecting tunnels:  Downtown Crossing, Park Street, Government Center and State Street.  In May, a similar extension of service will encompass the Red Line tunnels and underground stations.  Calls will be able to be carried continuously from Charles / MGH through Park Street, Downtown Crossing, South Station, Broadway, and Andrews to JFK / UMass.  The underground sections of the Blue and Green Lines are currently in design.

Comments

[klingsor]

Horrifically bad news for those of us who don't want to suffer people shouting into yell phones over the noise of a train. I was informed by T that no non-phone cars will be implemented. We are at the mercy of the shouters once again and for ever. Say goodbye to peace of mind if you are dependent on the T to get around

[J]

Good news for some, but not all. How about testing the use of some quiet(no cellphone) trains in the morning and late afternoon?

[J. Payne]

This is great! (especially from both a safety and security stand-point.) I am still looking forward to the day when mobile phones have good coverage inside Harvard Station(incl. the busway). The whole north side of the RL from Kendall Station to Alewife was all neglected under the old head.

[Modification Solution]

What a very nice accomplishment, very good job in making wi-fi available on it transportation system-a very nice amenity.

[John McLachlan]

So why only the southern tier of the Red line? Why not Kendall through Alewife?
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MBTA Responds: The project is taking part in phases. By next year, the entire subway system, including Kendall to Alewife, will have wireless coverage.