Comments on: WiFi on Amtrak Cascades

By: Nathan from Tacoma

Nathan from Tacoma — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:59:39 +0000

Lol, Thank you Mr. Deep Throat

By: CascadesDeepThroat

CascadesDeepThroat — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 04:38:58 +0000

The Mt. Olympus set has the test Wifi setup on it.

By: Nathan from Tacoma

Nathan from Tacoma — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:08:47 +0000

Which trainset has the goodies?

By: Brian Bundridge

Brian Bundridge — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:15:56 +0000

I don’t think so. I guess the system has been active for a few weeks now.

By: Erik

Erik — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:59:13 +0000

Maybe they are getting the Wifi equipment used from Foothill Transit in eastern L.A. County?
(Silver Streak is a Los Angeles to Montclair BRT line that uses Interstate 10)

http://www.foothilltransit.org/EAlert/NewsDisplay.aspx?ID=592&type=news

Attention Silver Streak Customers:

Due to costs, low customer usage, and advances in cell phone and PDA technology, Foothill Transit will be removing free WiFi access on its Silver Streak service effective March 17, 2009.

When Foothill Transit first launched its Silver Streak WiFi service in spring of 2007, it was intended to provide a unique, on-board amenity not available on any other transit service in Southern California. Recent advances in cell phone and PDA technology have reduced the need and the attraction for this kind of mobile wireless access.

The resulting decline in usage and increasing costs associated with providing the service led Foothill Transit to cancel the free WiFi access in favor of preserving the funds for other bus services.

We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you for riding Foothill Transit.

By: Brian Bundridge

Brian Bundridge — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:41:36 +0000

An observation I have noticed recently;

Cascades: Leather Seats on all of the train sets installed between 2008 and 2009 as part of the refurbishment program.
Acela: Just installing leather seats on some of the trains. Not all will get the new seats.

Cascades: Experimental wifi that is reportedly working throughout the entire corridor with very minimal interruptions.
Acela: No talks of wifi on the trains. This would be a huge, huge boom to the train if they went that way.

What’s next between the two?

By: Mike Skehan

Mike Skehan — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:24:57 +0000

Your right, of course.
Last week VP Biden, Kerry and a bunch of others showed up to tout the NE Corridor. Today, Ray LaHood is gushing about upstate NY to local electeds.
Those photo ops are no accident.

By: Chris Stefan

Chris Stefan — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:15:19 +0000

I wouldn’t blame the media so much. I suspect the stories you see are a result of an officeholder or state agency pushing the local press to write stories.

It would appear there is nobody doing media relations for Cascades or they’re not doing a very good job.

By: Mike Skehan

Mike Skehan — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:02:26 +0000

Another sad day for Seattle media and real leadership.
As I capture news stories from around the nation each day, regarding the 8 Bil. stimulus package sitting on the table, elected leaders are making a big deal over ‘their’ need for a HSR line from A to B.
Seattle has yet to run one story on the Cascade Corridor. KUDOS to STB for at least caring, and to you Brian, for being the lone voice in the woods.

By: Brian Bundridge

Brian Bundridge — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:27:22 +0000

I’ll also add that, Seattlest and STB are the only ones that come up with information regarding the new wifi service. Killer.

By: Brian Bundridge

Brian Bundridge — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:23:24 +0000

Awesome! I wonder if it is on just one train set or all of them.