Amtrak to add Wi-Fi to some trains free, for now

   

Amtrak will offer wireless Internet service on the high-speed trains that ferry passengers along the busy Northeast corridor, in another bid to lure business travelers away from the airline shuttles.

Wi-Fi access will be available starting in March on Acela trains traveling between Boston, New York and Washington, says Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole. Initially, the service will be free.

Upping the competition with airlines such as Delta and US Airways, which offer short flights to travelers up and down the East Coast, is one reason for the new service, Cole says.

"That's part of it," he says. But, "It's more about our initiatives to add services for our passengers and create a better riding experience."

He says the efforts are paying off. From September 2004 through June 2009, Amtrak's share of the market between New York and Washington, compared with the airlines, rose to 61% from 50%. Its share of the market between New York and Boston rose to 50% from 39%, Cole says. "When you look at what we did compared to the airlines over the last ... year, we made significant inroads," he says. Internet access is "a service people have been asking for. We've been testing it, and we're ready to roll it out in March."

The Acela express service gets passengers from New York to Washington in two hours, 50 minutes — 30 minutes faster than a regional train. Wi-Fi access can make time fly faster and lets travelers peruse the Internet longer than if they're on a short flight and have to log off for the rides to and from the airport.

Amtrak also plans to add Internet availability to Northeast regional trains, Cole says, and to eventually offer it beyond the East Coast.

By offering Wi-Fi on some of its Northeast runs, Amtrak is moving onto turf that's been dominated by Delta. Delta began offering Internet access on some domestic flights in December 2008. For the Northeast shuttles, and other flights under 1½ hours, the charge is $4.95. The price goes up to $12.95 for trips that are three hours and longer, says spokesman Paul Skrbec. For mobile devices, the price is $7.95.

By the end of June, Delta expects to have more than 540 aircraft equipped with Internet access. Although other airlines are adding Wi-Fi access, Skrbec says Delta has the largest Wi-Fi-enabled fleet in the world.

Posted via email from Supreme Clientele Travel