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Amtrak plans Wi-Fi internet access on Acela trains (Bloomberg News circulated the following story by Angela Greiling Keane on October 29, 2009.) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak, the U.S. passenger railroad, said it will equip Acela high-speed trains on its Northeast Corridor with free Wi-Fi Internet access next year as part of an effort to attract more riders. Amtrak will also update its self-service reservations program and put in a system that lets passengers retrieve tickets on mobile devices. The Washington-based carrier made the announcement in a five-year plan released today. The offerings may help the railroad compete with Delta Air Lines Inc. and US Airways Group Inc. shuttle flights from Boston, New York and Washington after Amtrak’s annual ridership fell for the first time since 2002. Airlines have been expanding Wi-Fi service to more jets to lure business travelers. “We must think big, be innovative and pursue opportunities and decisions that make good business sense because the competition is real,” Amtrak Chief Executive Officer Joseph Boardman said in a statement. The railroad will decide whether to charge for Wi-Fi “once performance results from the initial deployment are available,” said Steve Kulm, an Amtrak spokesman. Airlines charge customers for using Wi-Fi service. Delta, the world’s largest airline, has Aircell’s Gogo Internet service on more than half of the jets in its main operations, and plans to have it on all by the end of 2010. Delta is based in Atlanta. US Airways is installing the Gogo system on its Airbus A321s, which comprise most of its long-haul fleet, President Scott Kirby said on an Oct. 22 conference call with analysts. The service isn’t planned on New York shuttle flights, said Morgan Durrant, a spokesman for Tempe, Arizona-based US Airways. Amtrak trains already have outlets that can be used for laptop computers and, unlike U.S. airlines, mobile phone use is permitted on trains except in so-called quiet cars. Passenger loads dropped 5.4 percent to 27.2 million in the 12 months ending Sept. 30 from the same period a year earlier, Amtrak said this month. Friday, October 30, 2009 © 1997-2010 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen

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DAILY HEADLINES
September 2, 2010

•	BNSF worker on cell phone killed by Northstar train

•	Amtrak: Some Virginia service canceled in preparation for Hurricane Earl

•	SEPTA pilot program to capture, reuse subway energy

•	Railroad shares up at the close of September 1 trading

•	NJ Transit pays $267 million to purchase 100 new rail cars

•	NJ Transit seeks to add WiFi to rail lines, train stations

•	Texas DOT seeks TIGER II grant for Tower 55 project

•	Norfolk Southern targets carbon emissions-reduction goal

•	Progress Rail, NS announce order of four locomotives powered by Caterpillar engines

•	Firefighters have BNSF tie fire under control

•	BNSF railroad yard's health impacts studied

•	French railway faces criticism in US for WWII role

•	Steamtown's Railfest on the right track

•	RRB: Summary of annual financial report to Congress

•	Credit for military service under the Railroad Retirement Act

•	Railroad Retirement Board 2010 informational conferences

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