Broadband On Rails Dallas area line to get 10Mbps per train Wi-FI Networking News notes that 4G Metro will be offering the first broadband-enabled service offered by a "major US public railway." The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) line links Fort Worth, Dallas and DFW International Airport. According to the company press release, each train will see 10Mbps connectivity using Nortel's Municipal Wireless Solution -- which incorporates wireless mesh, WiMAX and optical technologies (no prices set yet). As for the "we're first" claims, WNN notes that the ACE (Altamount Commuter Express) line in California has had an Internet link running at low speeds for years. One of the more impressive North American deployments is Canada's Via Rail.
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  Aggie DanStop... Reverse That.Premium
join:2001-01-30
Frisco, TX | I'd love to see... The actual figures on how many people use the TRE and DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) systems.
It's not like the DFW area is huge on public transport from what I've experienced. This is roughly true of just about anywhere in Texas, though.
So, it's kind of neat, but high impact? I'm not so sure.
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Note : The statements made by myself are my own and not the opinions of my employer or of my coworkers. 15.81 GHz Crunching Power | My Random Thoughts... Yes, I have thoughts. | |
|  | | | Re: I'd love to see... 5,000 daily on the TRE, so not so many.... | |
| | |  en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: I'd love to see... That's worse than I thought... and probably similar to Los Angeles stats for MTA bus.
I'd like to compare that with TTC in Toronto or NYC's subways | |
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 pit_viper1 Shot, 1 Kill, No Remorse, I Decide
join:2002-07-24 | ?? I work for a Class III Railroad over 700 Miles of track and we have 5Mbps in our trains. We could up the links, but why? Not sure why this is a breaking story.
Granted we only haul freight and this access carries voice and data. | |
| |  nixenRockin' the BoxenPremium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA | Re: ?? said by pit_viper:I work for a Class III Railroad over 700 Miles of track and we have 5Mbps in our trains. We could up the links, but why? Not sure why this is a breaking story. Granted we only haul freight and this access carries voice and data. Unless your freight is likely to read DSLR, that might account for why this is news and your railroad's isn't. 
-tom
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"Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficial. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding." -Louis D Brandeis | |
| | | pit_viper1 Shot, 1 Kill, No Remorse, I Decide
join:2002-07-24 | Re: ?? said by nixen:said by pit_viper:I work for a Class III Railroad over 700 Miles of track and we have 5Mbps in our trains. We could up the links, but why? Not sure why this is a breaking story. Granted we only haul freight and this access carries voice and data. Unless your freight is likely to read DSLR, that might account for why this is news and your railroad's isn't. -tom Well my point is, if we were a passenger train company we could give this access to anybody on the train. | |
| | | | nixenRockin' the BoxenPremium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA | Re: ?? said by pit_viper:said by nixen:said by pit_viper:I work for a Class III Railroad over 700 Miles of track and we have 5Mbps in our trains. We could up the links, but why? Not sure why this is a breaking story. Granted we only haul freight and this access carries voice and data. Unless your freight is likely to read DSLR, that might account for why this is news and your railroad's isn't. -tom Well my point is, if we were a passenger train company we could give this access to anybody on the train. Start shipping illegal aliens.
-tom
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"Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficial. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding." -Louis D Brandeis | |
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ricep5Premium
join:2000-08-07
Jacksonville, FL | TRE/DFW barely I took the TRE to DFW from Union Station, if you can call it that.
The DFW station is merely a bus stop, which takes you to another bus stop, which then takes you to the terminal.
Not handy if you are pulling luggage and a laptop to use the proposed service. The politicians are still arguing over how TRE will get onto DFW property. Meanwhile the station is actually miles from the airport. | |
| nixenRockin' the BoxenPremium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA | What About Acela? You'd think that Amtrak's Acela service would be the first to offer WiFi. I mean, the train cars all have places for you to plug in your laptop, but no way to connect. Always seemed kind of pointless.
Unless these Dallas trains are "long haul" (e.g., 30min or more route), doesn't seem to make sense to put WiFi on the trains.
-tom
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"Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficial. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding." -Louis D Brandeis | |
|  LinklistPremium
join:2002-03-03
Longport, NJ
kudos:5
1 edit |  Via Rail WiFi expensive
One of the more impressive North American deployments is Canada's Via Rail »www.viarail.ca/wirelessinternet/···dex.html
1. Pay-per-minute Access Plan: obtain the first 15 minutes for $3.99 (CAN) and each additional minute for only $0.30 per minute.
2. Daily Access Plan: pay a flat rate of $8.95 (CAN) for a full 24-hours.
3. Monthly Access Plan: for $46 (CAN), get unlimited access during a one-month period. This plan will automatically be renewed every month, unless cancelled or modified.
Our systems use the 802.11b norm. --
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My BLOG
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| | | | Re: Via Rail WiF expensive Hell yea....ACE..straight representin!! | |
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 PashuneCaps stifle innovationPremium
join:2006-04-14
Gautier, MS | Nice..I guess. Well now, we have broadband access by car, plane, natural gas..and what's next? Trains..  | |
| |  DrModemPremium
join:2006-10-19
USA
kudos:1
1 edit | aw For a moment I thought it might be broadband through the rails to the train wheels. Oh well. | |
|  buckinghamBuckingham Pa
join:2005-07-17
Buckingham, PA
1 edit | Another vote for Accela I also agree I'd like to see it on Accela...especially since the wireless phone service on the corridor is, um...spotty. I could be surf...err...working...on those two hour each way trips to/from DC...  | |
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It's on Amtrak's Capitol Trains here in CA too :)