05/07, 12:35pm
App, custom case involved in changeover
US government railroad Amtrak is migrating to the iPhone for ticket scanning, the New York Times reports. Conductors on some routes have been training on the technology since November; during testing, passengers could submit either a regular ticket or a special barcode loaded on their smartphone. During the official rollout, some 1,700 conductors around the country will start using iPhones by late summer.
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10/31, 3:25pm
Amtrak now offers Wi-Fi on 60 percent of trains
US intercity railway operator Amtrak has once again just expanded the Wi-Fi network it began offering nearly two years ago to travelers. There have been 12 East Coast routes added, with the addition making 60 percent of all Amtrak routes offering Wi-Fi. The company has plans to expand further, upping that total to 75 percent.
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06/15, 10:35am
Ad-supported service would be free to riders
A private telecommunications company has proposed adding Wi-Fi service to two New York City area train lines. Mobilitie, which operates the free Wi-Fi service NYFI, submitted the proposal to build a wireless network for the Metro North and Long Island Rail Road lines. The service would be free to riders. The network and service would be built and supported by revenue from ads.
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06/03, 3:00pm
Acela to put free Wi-Fi on Express trains
After a trial run that proved to be a great success, Amtrak has said it will make free Wi-Fi access standard on its Acela Express trains. After a three month test period, the Washington, DC to Boston run will be the first route to get the service, with more being added in the future. During the trial, 39 percent of riders, or about 115,000, signed on.
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01/14, 1:30pm
Amtrak to launch free Wi-Fi in some trains
Commuter train operator Amtrak on Thursday said it will begin offering free Wi-Fi service, at least initially, on its Acela trains that carry passengers between Boston, New York and Washington. The move is the latest in the company's bid to entice business travelers to take the train rather than fly. The service will launch in March.
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