Business Travel News: Amtrak Switches On Free Acela Wi-Fi Service

Business Travel News story that Amtrak today announced that it has launched free wireless Internet service on all 20 Acela Express trains that run along the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., and in all four of its in-station ClubAcela lounges

The rail provider also is launching Wi-Fi service for all passengers within gate areas of stations in Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, Providence, New York and Washington, D.C. The Wilmington, Del., station will be Wi-Fi-enabled once renovations are complete in early 2011, according to Amtrak.

Good news, Amtrak needed to do this or they'd give the impression to customers they are not a viable modern travel option. WiFi needs to be on all NEC trains by the end of the year I say, then rolled out nationally. Free is great and I hope they keep this model. Paying for service or getting WiFi on your iPhone when the WiFi is secure is a pain in the ass and customers will not use it and a pay model would be as if Amtrak doesn't even offer WiFi. Maybe to prevent over use by non customers at stations Amtrak can do some sort of validation where you have to enter a valid ticket number. Or get Google to sponsor free Amtrak WiFi like they are doing at some US airports.