Amtrak Launches Wi-Fi Service on Regional Trains

• October 31, 2011

by UrbanTurf Staff

If you have grown a little frustrated with the internet service on BoltBus and you make frequent trips to New York, Philadelphia or Boston, this news will likely make you happy.

Amtrak announced a major expansion of their AmtrakConnect WiFi service today along its Northeast Regional routes, which operate daily between Virginia and Boston. Wireless internet service is also now available on the following routes:

• Carolinian (New York – Raleigh/Cary, N.C.)
• Downeaster (Boston – Portland)
• Ethan Allen Express (New York – Rutland, Vt.)
• New Haven – Springfield Shuttle
• Vermonter (Washington – St. Albans, Vt.)

Amtrak is also working on connecting passengers on the west coast and hopes to offer WiFi on several California lines by the end of the year, bringing the percentage of total Amtrak customers who can get online up to 75 percent. (Now the only question is how well will the internet work.)

While this comes as good news to many east coast commuters, it does not improve what have become legendary delays along the Northeast Regional line, which have led to debates over whether people prefer to travel by bus or train between DC and cities to to the north. We can all dream about the possibility of a better option, though.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/amtrak_launches_wi-fi_service_on_regional_trains/4477