Comments on: Amtrak’s utter incompetence http://marketurbanism.com/2009/12/30/amtraks-utter-incompetence/ Urbanism for Capitalists / Capitalism for Urbanists Sun, 20 May 2012 15:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: sidburgess http://marketurbanism.com/2009/12/30/amtraks-utter-incompetence/#comment-6659 sidburgess Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:06:44 +0000 http://marketurbanism.com/2009/12/30/amtraks-utter-incompetence/#comment-6659 Are you sure they don't offer it? I was under the impression that they have begun to offer it on many trains. I was told that ours will have it soon. Are you sure they don't offer it? I was under the impression that they have begun to offer it on many trains. I was told that ours will have it soon.

]]> By: David Gunn http://marketurbanism.com/2009/12/30/amtraks-utter-incompetence/#comment-6641 David Gunn Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:14:17 +0000 http://marketurbanism.com/2009/12/30/amtraks-utter-incompetence/#comment-6641 It is not unconscionable - the lack of wifi on the NEC trains so far is a function of the fact they travel under power wires, called catenary, that carry over 10,000 volts and generate enormous amounts of electromagnetic interference.<br><br>While many passengers have some success with broadband cards and cell tethering, these solutions suffer from spotty coverage and rely on a technology not tuned for 100 mph+ hand-offs from one cell to another. Amtrak has worked with a number of first-tier vendors who have taken, literally, years to develop a solution that is economic to field.<br><br>Current Amtrak plans suggest the test systems on a few of the 20 Acela trains will be available fleet-wide by March 2010.<br><br>The viability of wifi on these trains is not a function of the cost of a ticket. One can buy a used car, and a Verizon Mifi, and have mobile internet, but that does not create a useful solution for trains carrying more than 300 passengers. It is not unconscionable – the lack of wifi on the NEC trains so far is a function of the fact they travel under power wires, called catenary, that carry over 10,000 volts and generate enormous amounts of electromagnetic interference.

While many passengers have some success with broadband cards and cell tethering, these solutions suffer from spotty coverage and rely on a technology not tuned for 100 mph+ hand-offs from one cell to another. Amtrak has worked with a number of first-tier vendors who have taken, literally, years to develop a solution that is economic to field.

Current Amtrak plans suggest the test systems on a few of the 20 Acela trains will be available fleet-wide by March 2010.

The viability of wifi on these trains is not a function of the cost of a ticket. One can buy a used car, and a Verizon Mifi, and have mobile internet, but that does not create a useful solution for trains carrying more than 300 passengers.

]]> By: Keith http://marketurbanism.com/2009/12/30/amtraks-utter-incompetence/#comment-6640 Keith Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:58:45 +0000 http://marketurbanism.com/2009/12/30/amtraks-utter-incompetence/#comment-6640 Stephen,<br>Love your blog, and usually think you're on target. However, I think the price comparison portion of your argument is invalid because of the amount of subsidies going towards highways while our train infrastructure has received comparatively little subsidy.<br><br>Yet, it is still ridiculous that this hasn't happened earlier (Delta and American Airlines are outfitting their planes for wi-fi, so Amtrak should have been able to easily do this on its trains). The fixed cost to add this to a train has to be negligible. Stephen,
Love your blog, and usually think you're on target. However, I think the price comparison portion of your argument is invalid because of the amount of subsidies going towards highways while our train infrastructure has received comparatively little subsidy.

Yet, it is still ridiculous that this hasn't happened earlier (Delta and American Airlines are outfitting their planes for wi-fi, so Amtrak should have been able to easily do this on its trains). The fixed cost to add this to a train has to be negligible.

]]> By: Foreclosed homes find http://marketurbanism.com/2009/12/30/amtraks-utter-incompetence/#comment-6634 Foreclosed homes find Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:32:28 +0000 http://marketurbanism.com/2009/12/30/amtraks-utter-incompetence/#comment-6634 Amtrak’s utter incompetence...interesting post..<br>Thank you for sharing. Amtrak’s utter incompetence…interesting post..
Thank you for sharing.

]]> By: Anon http://marketurbanism.com/2009/12/30/amtraks-utter-incompetence/#comment-6632 Anon Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:53:26 +0000 http://marketurbanism.com/2009/12/30/amtraks-utter-incompetence/#comment-6632 The Downeaster has had Wifi for over a year. The Downeaster has had Wifi for over a year.

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