Photo by T.D. Ford (Grundlepuck)

Riders can now experience the results of some of Metro’s weekend work on the rails.

Metro announced on Tuesday that passengers traveling between Metro Center and Stadium-Armory stations can now text, make calls, and browse the internet powered by AT&T, Sprint, T‐Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.

In December, Metro announced its first segment of wireless connectivity between Potomac Avenue and Stadium-Armory stations on the Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines. The new additions, which includes several downtown stations, extends coverage along that rail segment to 3.7 miles.

There’s also wireless voice and data service on the Red Line between Glenmont and Silver Spring stations.

While it dates back to 2008, the push to get the project completed comes after the fatal 2015 smoke incident—in which many passengers were stranded in smoke-filled trains with no cell reception to call for help—and the subsequent pressure from Congress (and everyone else) to enhance its safety measures.

Last February, WMATA announced that it would begin laying radio cables for the project, which has led to single-tracking and slower service between some stations on the weekends.

Metro officials have said that installing cables throughout the system roughly equates to the distance between D.C. and New York City. They plan to announce the activation of other tunnel segments as work continues through December 2020.