[Hidden-tech] Amtrak Wifif

[Shel Horowitz]

At 3:52 PM -0400 6/25/11, Edbride-PR wrote:
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>As much as I like to be connected while en route, I'm not sure that Wi-Fi
>(free or not) would make much of a difference in my plans for a short-range
>trip. To me, Albany-to-NY or even Philadelphia qualifies as short-range.
>Washington, D.C., closer to 400 miles, that's a different matter. For a trip
>of that distance, time en-route is going to have a much bigger impact than
>Wi-Fi vs. disconnected. If I can't afford an entire business day en route,
>I'll fly, Wi-Fi or not.

Factoring in getting to/from the airport, going through security, 
etc., and assuming (yeah, I know) both train and plane are on time, I 
figured that October trip would have been five hours to fly (of which 
one hour was actual air time from Bradley to Baltimore. It was seven 
to take the train from Springfield, plus half an hour to and from the 
train, for a total of eight. And since I fly economy, the luxury of 
extra room on the train was like a first-class upgrade--not to 
mention that it was much easier to walk around, and a much greener 
option. It is more expensive than flying, which is somewhat crazy. 
Sometimes it makes more sense to fly, but that particular time, I 
felt I didn't lose much, and I was so much more well-rested that I 
think I gave a better speech the next day.

>
>Amtrak could probably offer Wi-Fi if it wanted, but I don't imagine they see
>it as a competitive advantage right now, and they're not in the habit of
>spending "needlessly" on customer conveniences. On the other hand, some
>expert in interstate commerce, rail subsidies, and other such matters may
>tell us that Amtrak is not permitted to offer Wi-Fi. Anybody on board with
>that (sorry)?

If they wanted, they could even have two or three cars with wi-fi per 
train, which would be much cheaper than a router in every car. But 
I'd bet those cars would fill up FAST!

>
>Ed


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