News

Special Antennas Will Improve Wireless Service on MetroLink, Even When Trains Are in Tunnels

T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers who ride MetroLink and use their wireless devices during their transit trips now have new reliability and connectivity from special antennas that have been installed in MetroLink tunnels. Metro Transit partnered with T-Mobile to install the special equipment inside tunnels to provide voice and high-speed LTE data service for T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers.

“When you’re riding MetroLink, you shouldn’t have to plan your calls, texts or emails around the tunnels. You want your phone to work when you need it,” said Jennifer Silveira, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Technology for T-Mobile’s Central Region. “Not only are T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers the first to have service in the tunnels, it’s blazing fast too. Go ahead and stream your music or watch Cardinals’ highlights in HD on your way to the park.”

Components for T-Mobile’s distributed antenna system (DAS) were installed at six MetroLink stations to amplify cellular signals in tunnels in downtown St. Louis, the Central West End, and along the Blue Line by the University City-Big Bend and Skinker MetroLink Stations.

“Being able to stay connected is important in our daily lives, for our work, for communicating with our families, for safety and security and for education and entertainment,” said John Nations, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bi-State Development. “Through this partnership, our passengers who are T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers, will enjoy this new amenity that will make their commutes on the Metro Transit system that much more convenient, easy and enjoyable. It’s part of our commitment to give our riders the best transit experience possible.”

The new antennas are fully operational, and MetroLink passengers using T-Mobile or MetroPCS services can currently enjoy uninterrupted cellular and data service throughout the MetroLink system.

The cost of this project was completely supported by T-Mobile.

About Metro Transit

Metro Transit operates the St. Louis region’s public transportation system which includes 400 clean-burning diesel buses that serve 83 MetroBus routes in eastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois. Metro also operates MetroLink light rail vehicles on 46 miles of track serving 37 stations in the two-state area, and operates Metro Call‑A‑Ride, a paratransit fleet of 122 vans. Metro Transit is one of five enterprises operated by Bi-State Development