Smart Passengers

Smart Passengers Inc. is a not-for-profit group which aims to represent the passengers of Melbourne's Public Transport system with a view to improving the public transport service.
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 Post subject: On-board wi-fi on suburban trains?
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:24 am 
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Joined: Mon May 26, 2008 10:17 pm
Posts: 966
Location: Mount Waverley 3149
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.

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PostPosted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:26 pm 
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Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:22 pm
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Location: South Geelong & Marshall line.
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.

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PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 5:41 pm 
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Location: East Bentleigh 3165
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.

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David Stosser (Member No.0004)
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 Post subject: Re: On-board wi-fi on suburban trains?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 12:34 pm 
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Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2009 11:12 pm
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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.

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