You have to love election time. It’s the time of year when politicians make promises about all the cool stuff they’ll do after they get elected, as opposed to actually doing it when they had the chance. To prove the point, the NSW Labor government yesterday promised free WiFi for Sydney trains should they get reelected next month.
While there have been some tech offerings from the current Labor government, like the ferry wifi and support for consumer-grade timetabling apps (among other things), the simple fact is that this reeks of desperation from a government who can taste their impending election loss. Given that they’ve been in power for 16 years or so, they’ve had plenty of time to get off their asses and offer these services prior to the lead up to an election.
State governments all over the country shouldn’t need the threat of losing an election as an excuse to start promising this kind of technology offering – it should be a priority already. But for Sydneysiders, hopefully we’ll see Wi-Fi connected trains no matter who wins the election next month…
Tracius
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 11:08 AMNSW Labor can promise anything at this point, because they know they won’t be elected and have to deliver.
Woodze
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 11:11 AMIt will happen no matter who wins.. How do i know this you ask? I know it will happen because i just started apply for places to live in the city.. Free Wi-fi would be awesome for my current 1 hr+ commute and typically right when I don’t need it, it will be put in place… sigh!
Stephen Earp
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 1:19 PMI live on the Central Coast, and just got a new job at Normanhurst that I drive to – previously I worked in the city with a commute of a little under 2 hrs.
Of course it’ll happen now that I’m not on the train any more lol!
But would have been soooo good if I were still rail commuter!
Aidan
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 11:11 AMAs long as it works when going through the city circle I’ll be happy. I listen to my internet radio while heading into the city and same time every time it’s cut short when entering the tunnel system.
But I don’t think they will bother with any kind of 3/4G relay system in the tunnels. Oh well..
Ben Shuker
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 11:52 AMThis would make my rooted Nook Color that much more useful on the horrible cityrail journey I take each day.
Daniel
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 12:12 PMFree WiFi on trains?!
I’m all for it, but how about getting more reliable trains that run on time, that have aircon, before promising stuff that probably won’t happen in the next few years.
David
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 8:04 PMIf the government can’t reliable trains in 18 years in power then there is no way they will get free wi-fi. The plus is, if they do get it, people commuting will be able to surf the net while their train is broken down – winner!!
Evan
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 12:30 PM16 years ago there was no wireless connection to the internet and barely any internet. It is only recently that wireless connectivity on public transport as begun to be offered anywhere. Therefore criticisms of this latest offer are missing their mark.
While the present ALP government has been in power in NSW for 16 years the Premier has not, nor has a large number of new candidates who she has replaced the old right-wing drones with. Since the opposition has no policies that make a whit of sense and promises only to destroy things (take a look at what they are offering!) I think that Ms Keneally deserves to win.
Its time that NSW voters got of their bums and had a look at what is really on offer from all the parties.
Grant Muir
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 3:23 PMAre you kidding Evan?
NSW Labour has systematiacally stripped the state’s key services.
Keneally is a lying fraud whose intentional interference with a parlimentary enquiry underlines her and her incompetent cronies utter disdain for the people they serve.
Barry and his gang of clowns are no better.
It’s time that the voters of NSW got leaders who didn’t piss away our money and sell our future in a vain bid to hold on to power.
Aaron
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 12:34 PMWhy not install aircon in the trains first? It was ridiculous over the last month how hot it was.
Oh that’s right, the election won’t be held during summer.
H
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 4:10 PMFair comment Aaron, but I’d recommend only complaining about the non-aircon trains if Cityrail doesn’t deliver the new fleet of trains by June 2011 as promised. Don’t get me wrong, I HATE the shitty silver death traps they run, my hour and a half train ride slow cooking in one of those drives me mental, but I will reserve my murderous rampage for June if we are f*cked over again.
Shane
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 12:51 PMCould they promise trains that run on time?? How about trains that run??
If wi-fi is that high on there agenda, then they’ve lost touch with the real issues.
0kensai0
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 10:33 AMit maybe that they’ve officially given up on making the trains run on time.
So they’ll give you something to do while stuck on the train for the next 45+ minutes of your journey back home ^_^
Ben Evans
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 2:22 PMjust think how slow the connection will be, just like the trains! Wi-fi connected to 56k dial up in the drivers compartment.
Daniel Weaver-Koenigs
Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 7:04 PMYou know what’d be better than free wifi?
Completing all the proposed train lines that have never been built.
jason
Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 7:05 PMsome one answer why you want wifi on trains.
The speed WILL be poor there’s no doubt about that, during peak hour what device are you using cos it sure wont be a laptop.
the roll out wont be quick and with my knowledge of retrofitting services into trains, its sure as hell wont be cheap, unless it really just is an access point in the drivers cab.
if your the type of person who needs data on their commute wouldn’t you just have a 3g data plan
Anthony Tam
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 3:15 PMReal commuters use 3G modems and not rely on a proposed shittyfail service. Anyway they are dodging the real issues of a) having reliable trains, b) trains with a/c and c) having enough trains at all.