While NSW’s Cityrail goes about threatening iPhone app developers with legal action, CityTrain commuters up in Queensland can take comfort in the fact that their train network is actually looking at embracing technology, in the shape of free Wi-Fi.As Darrel Giles from the Courier Mail mentions, new wireless security equipment being introduced to all train carriages, train stations and platforms will have the fringe benefit for consumers of offering free wireless internet.
The scheme is set to cost anywhere between $1 million and $4 million, and will be completed by early next year. And if you happen to live right next to a CityTrain station and hope to jump on that free WiFi goodness, apparently it’s going to be firewalled against you. Not sure how they’ll differentiate between you and someone on the train platform, but who can argue with politicians and their knowledge of technology?
In any case, this move makes the rest of the country’s rail networks look bad. Well, worse.
Kath
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 12:23 PMApparently this is not true, it is mobile signal they are expanding, not offering free WiFi. Apparently this will mean that mobile phones (including 3G internet access) will no longer drop out for passengers on their rail service (as it does now).
Queensland Rail are disputing the article in the Courier Mail on Sunday. Will share more info as I find it.
Calrion
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 12:43 PMThere’s no mention of this being free, either in the Courier-Mail article (ok, the writer makes the leap but there’s no evidence supplied) or the ministerial press release.
I’ll be the first to say that this is a great idea, but unless it’s free commuters may well find mobile broadband is better today than what this project will deliver.
I use my MacBook Pro on the train right now, connected to the Internet via a Bluetooth link to my mobile. Unless this new scheme is free, I can’t see me changing any time soon.
At the very least, if it’s not free commuters should be able to buy time (preferably on the train itself) using their Go Card (Brisbane’s electronic ticketing system).
Qualziar
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 12:26 PMThey tried this in Adelaide recently ( http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/hardware/soa/SA-govt-to-rig-buses-for-free-internet/0,130061702,339290518,00.htm ) but copped a lot of criticism because the transport system itself needs a lot more investment. Adelaide is the only mainland capital not to have electric trains, so you can see where that is coming from.
Ben Grubb
Sunday, April 19, 2009 at 11:49 PMKath,
I did some research on the topic and have some more information here:
http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,28348,25345995-5014239,00.html