Smart Passengers

Some airlines and train operators have been experimenting with offering wi-fi internet access to passengers. What do we all think of that?

Technology is advancing rapidly, and within a few years it should be possible to build wi-fi coverage over the suburban rail network, with routers placed beside the track to send the data to the trains, and a repeater router on each train to get the data to the passenger's laptop. Within a few years the price will come down to the point where it's possible to do a high speed network for a reasonable price.

Alternatively, what about providing it at stations but not on the train?

I throw it open. Weigh in with your ideas.

On a suburban train, I don't really see many with laptops open. I personally wouldn't partially due to a lack of room, and also because I always stand (Peak hour loop passenger who gets off within Zone 1 anyway).

On a V/Line, I see about half the train with a laptop and dongle, so maybe that has some merit if V/Line could supply a good service. The Wi-Fi at McDonalds for example, is so slow I don't bother with it.

I don't see much of a use for it on the suburban network, because for it to be of any real value you'd need the average journey to be greater than 30 minutes; and we don't want to encourage that.

On stations is even worse; we don't want the average passenger to be at the station for more than 5 minutes, circa 2050.

At stations as sponsored by an advertiser, such as at Southern Cross, by ANZ, it is a workable option.

This needs to be rolled out.