WiFi now on all Intercity Trains.

Oscar Bravo

Free WiFi now on all Intercity trains - coming soon to DART, Commuter, Enterprise

09 July 2012
Iarnród Éireann has announced that all of the company’s Intercity trains are now equipped with free WiFi.
Already operating on services on the 67 carriages of the Dublin-Cork fleet since last year, the service has proven a huge hit with rail customers on the route. The equipping of the new 234-carriage Intercity railcar fleet, by Irish company FleetConnect, means that every Intercity route on the network now has free WiFi, covering:
- Dublin-Cork
- Dublin-Sligo
- Dublin-Westport
- Dublin-Galway
- Dublin-Limerick
- Dublin/Cork-Kerry
- Dublin-Waterford
- Dublin-Rosslare
One of the great benefits of rail travel is that you can use your travelling time productively, for work or leisure, and free wi-fi for customers will only add to this. Customers can use their smartphones, media devices, tablets, laptops and more while on their journey. Customers on the Intercity railcar fleet, which are now equipped with free wifi, also have plug sockets at every seat, so they can charge their devices as they travel for maximum convenience.
Iarnród Éireann is also planning to introduce wi-fi on the DART and Commuter fleet during the summer of 2012, with the support of the National Transport Authority. Furthermore, the company is working with Translink to equip the Belfast Enterprise train with wi-fi by the end of 2012.
This will make the Iarnród Éireann fleet one of the most wi-fi connected fleets in Europe, and is the latest phase in service improvements from the rail company.
Services are operated by the newest Intercity fleet in Europe, giving high standards of comfort on board.

Technology
Irish company FleetConnect has been chosen by Iarnród Éireann to provide broadband Wi-Fi services to its passengers on the Intercity railcar fleet, having already equipped the Dublin/Cork fleet. FleetConnect and its technology partner, Sweden-based Icomera AB, were selected to supply a complete internet access solution based on the market-leading Icomera X6 Mobile Access and Applications Router. The system is already installed on trains in the UK, Europe and North America.
FleetConnect and Icomera will be working with Iarnród Éireann to equip their trains with its industry-leading on-train broadband solution, which uses its patented SureWAN™ technology to seamlessly switch between and aggregate multiple mobile data networks to ensure always-on broadband connectivity in every carriage, for passengers, crew and onboard systems as the train moves through its journey.

Connecting to Free WiFi on Iarnród Éireann Intercity services
Connection to the system is easy, with on-screen assistance for customers on board. Simply turn on your laptop, connect to 'IRISHRAIL- WIFI' and open your internet brower.
Customers who encounter any problems can call the WiFi Support team on 01-8809600 (Monday-Friday 06.00 - 23.00) or email support@fleetconnect.ie

PucaMama

was on one of the trains with it friday. its not great but its only starting out and its a great idea. only thing is i wanted to watch netflix and they ask you not to.

bk

PucaMama wrote: »

was on one of the trains with it friday. its not great but its only starting out and its a great idea. only thing is i wanted to watch netflix and they ask you not to.

In fairness, these sort of services use 3G networks and 3G networks just aren't designed to handle streaming video. It is for web, email, etc. only.

I'm delighted to see this news.

However I find it hilarious to read this on the silicon republic article on the same matter:

“One of the great benefits of rail travel is that you can use your travelling time productively, for work or leisure, and giving our customers free Wi-Fi will only add to this,” said an Iarnród Éireann spokesperson. “Customers on the Intercity rail-car fleet, which are now equipped with free Wi-Fi, also have plug sockets at every seat, so they can charge their devices as they travel for maximum convenience.”

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/item/28195-all-iarnrod-ireann/

I've been saying that for the past 7 years or so. That Irish Rail needed to offer free wifi and power plugs to take maximum advantage of one of the few advantages they have, the ability of people to work and play on the train.

Back then IR said there was no need for wifi as all devices in the future would have their own 3g modem and that technology was moving to fast. I argued that IR didn't have a clue what they were talking about, that wifi wold become ubiquitous. I'm glad to see IR have finally come around to my way of thinking

foggy_lad

They were charging for it when first introduced on Dublin-Cork services:D but had to abandon this when people were not interested in paying for something that is free everywhere else.

Judgement Day

Maybe they could reinvent proper catering one of these days - I suspect that there would be more demand for that than WiFi. Then perhaps they could try carrying parcels again and maybe even use the consequent additional staff member to provide a secure environment for passengers. Who knows after the WiFi breakthrough the great minds in IE could tackle the SDO problem. :rolleyes:

foggy_lad

Judgement Day wrote: »

Maybe they could reinvent proper catering one of these days - I suspect that there would be more demand for that than WiFi. Then perhaps they could try carrying parcels again and maybe even use the consequent additional staff member to provide a secure environment for passengers. Who knows after the WiFi breakthrough the great minds in IE could tackle the SDO problem. :rolleyes:

Ah here why not bring back the porters and other obsolete station staff that used to take his lordship trunk to the guards van and help her ladyship into her 1st class seat and bring the wine list and menu.

If people want to live in the distant past they should do so at their own expense and not expect the nation to subsidise their fantasies.

Jesus Shaves

Would prefer to see a reduction in ticket prices than free wifi
The free wifi only provides a service that everyone has on their 3G phones.

goingnowhere

foggy_lad wrote: »

They were charging for it when first introduced on Dublin-Cork services:D but had to abandon this when people were not interested in paying for something that is free everywhere else.

Actually it was free to start, then charged, then free

foggy_lad

Jesus Shaves wrote: »

Would prefer to see a reduction in ticket prices than free wifi
The free wifi only provides a service that everyone has on their 3G phones.

The current price reductions are only for the summer and you can bet as soon as the students are back in college and people back from their holidays the special web-sale prices will be gone back to the normal rip-off prices. There will be no reduction and the WiFi provided is better than people can get on their phones because of the set-up and using multiple networks etc.

Jamie2k9

The current price reductions are only for the summer and you can bet as soon as the students are back in college and people back from their holidays the special web-sale prices will be gone back to the normal rip-off prices. There will be no reduction and the WiFi provided is better than people can get on their phones because of the set-up and using multiple networks etc.

The €20 student return has being available since early 2012 and I don't see it being dropped.

The reduced online fares don't make much differance to some routes and they are populor and recently the prices for bookings 3 days in advance, day of travel have being increased. I can see them bieng around long term as its the only way to get passengers onbaord and I can't speak for everybody but its certinaly working on Waterford line. Can't fault the WiFi on the line either.

foggy_lad

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

The €20 student return has being available since early 2012 and I don't see it being dropped.

The reduced online fares don't make much differance to some routes and they are populor and recently the prices for bookings 3 days in advance, day of travel have being increased. I can see them bieng around long term as its the only way to get passengers onbaord and I can't speak for everybody but its certinaly working on Waterford line. Can't fault the WiFi on the line either.

JJ Kavanaghs reducing their fares to waterford and Carlow has had an effect on the numbers but it will be more noticable when the colleges start back up.

I might get the train tomorrow and give the WiFi a try as well as the power if it is working:)

Jamie2k9

The power problems on the ICR has being fixed on the whole fleet.

foggy_lad

So they were able to fix the problem without replacing all the sockets, that will have saved rotem a few euros.

Solair

They really need to fit sockets on the Cork-Dublin CAF intercity trains. Not fitting them in standard class was a MASSIVE oversight.
I mean, when those trains were designed, people were using laptops. It's understandable on the Enteprise as it pre-dates widespread laptop usage by quite a while.

Franticfrank

We shouldn't complain about our trains too much. In Germany for instance, all trains, including the high speed ICE only have about 8 sockets per carriage, meaning you have to sit where the socket is. And they only have wifi on the ICE and you have to pay for it. Looking at what Irish Rail are doing, having sockets everywhere and free wifi on all the trains is really good.

Solair

Franticfrank wrote: »

We shouldn't complain about our trains too much. In Germany for instance, all trains, including the high speed ICE only have about 8 sockets per carriage, meaning you have to sit where the socket is. And they only have wifi on the ICE and you have to pay for it. Looking at what Irish Rail are doing, having sockets everywhere and free wifi on all the trains is really good.

Yeah it's great, but on their busiest route, there are hardly any sockets in standard class coaches.

There are only sockets at either end of the carriage on the Mark 4 InterCity trains. They were intended for the cleaners, not the passengers. Those trains only have under-table sockets in 1st class.

They really need to look at how they could be retrofitted. It's a HUGE selling point for anyone trying to work on the way between Dublin and Cork.

Jamie2k9

As far as I know the plan is for sockets to be installed on the Mark 4 sets.

Isn't it great that other lines have an advantage over the Cork line currently. Its always being the other way round.:D

dowlingm

foggy_lad wrote: »

Ah here why not bring back the porters and other obsolete station staff that used to take his lordship trunk to the guards van and help her ladyship into her 1st class seat and bring the wine list and menu.

Feckin' right. Myself and my ladyship will be in Ireland at the end of the month Dick so you better have a man at Heuston ready to tug his forelock

dowlingm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

As far as I know the plan is for sockets to be installed on the Mark 4 sets.

Isn't it A THUNDERING DISGRACE that other lines have an advantage over the Cork line currently

FYP

Solair

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

As far as I know the plan is for sockets to be installed on the Mark 4 sets.

Isn't it great that other lines have an advantage over the Cork line currently. Its always being the other way round.:D

Hopefully to the Enterprise too.

Zoney

Hopefully they'll use the intercity railcars for all the Limerick-Limerick Junction connecting services in the future, they've started using them for some.

Cookie_Monster

Franticfrank wrote: »

We shouldn't complain about our trains too much. In Germany for instance, all trains, including the high speed ICE only have about 8 sockets per carriage, meaning you have to sit where the socket is. And they only have wifi on the ICE and you have to pay for it. Looking at what Irish Rail are doing, having sockets everywhere and free wifi on all the trains is really good.

That cause DB are more interested in actually having fast reliable trains that get people where they want to go rather than having to put in all kinds of perks to distract passengers from the abysmal service.

Solair

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

That cause DB are more interested in actually having fast reliable trains that get people where they want to go rather than having to put in all kinds of perks to distract passengers from the abysmal service.

Also, a lot of their fleet pre-dates laptop usage.
Same with the TGVs.

Until relatively recently, people didn't need power sockets in public transport very often.

end of the road

foggy_lad wrote: »

Ah here why not bring back the porters and other obsolete station staff that used to take his lordship trunk to the guards van and help her ladyship into her 1st class seat and bring the wine list and menu.

If people want to live in the distant past they should do so at their own expense and not expect the nation to subsidise their fantasies.

it isn't subsidiseing peoples fantasies, its common sense. an extra member of staff aboard intercity and regional services to check tickets, offer a customer service, and acting as security on board. not one bit obsolete. a railway needs staff to run, what next get rid of the train drivers?

bk

end of the road wrote: »

it isn't subsidiseing peoples fantasies, its common sense. an extra member of staff aboard intercity and regional services to check tickets, offer a customer service, and acting as security on board. not one bit obsolete. a railway needs staff to run, what next get rid of the train drivers?

Sure, if it can be done safely, why not?

The DLR in London comes to mind, it manages to carry 64 million passengers per year with no driver *.

* Interestingly it does have

a Passenger Service Agent (PSA), originally referred to as a "Train Captain", on each train is responsible for patrolling the train, checking tickets, making announcements and controlling the doors. PSAs can take control of the train in circumstances including equipment failure and emergencies.

Also interestingly, given the success of the DLR, they are now proposing to automate other London Underground lines as it will allow them to increase frequencies.

foggy_lad

end of the road wrote: »

it isn't subsidiseing peoples fantasies, its common sense. an extra member of staff aboard intercity and regional services to check tickets, offer a customer service, and acting as security on board. not one bit obsolete. a railway needs staff to run, what next get rid of the train drivers?

Having a ticket checker on board intercity trains is not really the same as bring back all the obsolete station staff that used to be employed to help you on and off your train and look after your bags and trunks as well as more staff who were employed to look after the few parcels that were sent by train. there was a time almost every station had a manned fastrack desk and dedicated staff to handle parcels.People who think this kind of wastage is accceptable are not living in the real world where it is so much cheaper to send parcels etc by UPS/DHL/GLS etc, Even An Post was cheaper than fast track which was about as fast as grass growing in winter!

end of the road

well the london underground can do what it likes but i and most people expect someone in the front controlling the train. the railway should be used for whatever possible, and having the staff employed doing little is better then having them on the dole. oh and laurd end of the road, the great earl of wexford expects the following. to be met by a porter at the station and be escorted to collect his ticket. to have his bag taken and escorted to his seat aboard the train. to be escorted off the train at his destination. to be pampered aboard the train with luxury wines and food. i vote foggy lad to be my waiter aboard the train, he is expected to be at my beck and call at all times.

bk

Ah, I see, so Irish Rails job isn't to move large numbers of people to where they need to go quickly, cheaply and efficiently. Their job is to be a job employment scheme :eek:

Judgement Day

foggy_lad wrote: »

Having a ticket checker on board intercity trains is not really the same as bring back all the obsolete station staff that used to be employed to help you on and off your train and look after your bags and trunks as well as more staff who were employed to look after the few parcels that were sent by train. there was a time almost every station had a manned fastrack desk and dedicated staff to handle parcels.People who think this kind of wastage is accceptable are not living in the real world where it is so much cheaper to send parcels etc by UPS/DHL/GLS etc, Even An Post was cheaper than fast track which was about as fast as grass growing in winter!

foggy - sometimes I wonder just how old you are. I'm 53 and I don't remember porters of the type that you refer to and it's a very long time since most stations had dedicated parcels staff. At my local station the signalman worked the cabin, sold tickets, handled parcels (including delivery), cleaned the toilets, tended the flower beds - fairly broad job description there!

Fastrack was a poorly operated service but despite that was popular with those that used it or knew about it. I regularly send parcels within Ireland and the UK and can assure you that dealing with couriers is far from straightforward and in any event it should be possible to beat them hands down if the railway was being properly run. If CIE were responsible for producing water or oxygen, and doing it badly, would you say we will do without it? CIE - Complete Incompetence Expected but it does not equal CIE is bad therefore railways are per se.

serfboard

Iarnrod Eireann wrote:

Irish company FleetConnect has been chosen by Iarnród Éireann to provide broadband Wi-Fi services to its passengers on the Intercity railcar fleet, having already equipped the Dublin/Cork fleet.

The system is already installed on trains in the UK, Europe and North America.

Isn't it gas that they neglect to mention FleetConnect's must obvious installation in Ireland - on Citylink buses. And let's face it, it is only because of this that we're getting it on the trains now too.

Franticfrank wrote: »

We shouldn't complain about our trains too much. In Germany for instance, all trains, including the high speed ICE only have about 8 sockets per carriage, meaning you have to sit where the socket is. And they only have wifi on the ICE and you have to pay for it. Looking at what Irish Rail are doing, having sockets everywhere and free wifi on all the trains is really good.

Agreed. Two experiences from England come to mind - one is trains that originally provided free WiFi now charging for it (CrossCountry) and the other is bus services that now provide sockets also.

It all just shows how good a thing competition is - bus competition has forced Iarnrod Eireann to up their game - and they have. However, IMO they still lose out for three reasons

- Peak-time journeys are still more expensive (though in fairness IE are doing good stuff with the off-peak)
- Overall journeys are slower City Centre -> City Centre (e.g. Eyre Square to O'Connell St.)
- Bus has the obvious attraction of onward connection to Dublin Airport without changing, meaning Galway->Dublin Airport is 2:45 (or the very early GoBus service that doesn't go into the City Centre and does Galway->Dublin Airport in 2:30. 'Twasn't that long ago the Citylink Dublin Airport to Galway took 4 hours :eek:).

dtipp

Was on the Cork to Dublin train twice recently for the first time since Wifi came in.

But the Wifi was absolutely terrible both times.

Is it normally this bad - if it is then it's practically useless.

Sponge Bob

Fraid so, the 3g mobile networks that backhaul the wifi are located along roads not along railway lines.

Ben D Bus

Really need WiFi on the Enterprise. I lose my 3g connction as soon as I cross the border. Most passengers will only have their own mobile account for half of the journey.

vikingdub

Ben D Bus wrote: »

Really need WiFi on the Enterprise. I lose my 3g connction as soon as I cross the border. Most passengers will only have their own mobile account for half of the journey.

Was on the Enterprise myself today and was quite surprised that there was no wifi, I was under the impression it had been installed, there are also parts of the route where there is no mobile phone signal at all. Not much good to people who plan to use the journey for business purposes.

dowlingm

Holding off until somehow shekels are found to give the DDs its midlife refit?

Ben D Bus

Just as aside, Im currently sitting on the Enterprise using WiFi. There is an Easons virtual bookstore on the Connolly concourse and it seems to be providing unrestricted access to the web.

dtipp

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Fraid so, the 3g mobile networks that backhaul the wifi are located along roads not along railway lines.

They shouldn't be allowed advertise that they have Wifi considering it's so bad.
Reflects badly on Irish Rail anyway, cause it feels like they are tricking people when they actually get on the train and see how poor it is.

Peanut

Tried the free wifi for the first time on the Dublin-Sligo route this weekend and it was also practically unusable.

dealhunter1985

from what I recall on my last i'd say 8 trips on the sligo-dublin train, I managed to get connected once and it was unusable.
the rest of the time, I simply couldnt get connected
I wasnt surprised though. My expectations of Irish Rail were already so low

embraer170

Used it from Killarney to Dublin two days ago. It worked absolutely perfectly for pretty much the whole way and seemed a far better interface and system than I have used on the continent. I traveled almost daily on a Wifi equipped high speed train for a year and the system didn't work more than half the time.

Louche Lad

I've used it several times on Limerick-Dublin trains recently and it's been OK.

juan.kerr

When will this be on the DART?

stick-dan

It was deplorable at best when it was first rolled out, but recently I've been making quite a few journeys between Dublin - Galway - Dublin and Dublin - Carlow - Dublin and it's served it's purpose just fine with the exception on the Dublin - Galway - Dublin line as it goes through some bogland which is acceptable I think.

goingnowhere

juan.kerr wrote: »

When will this be on the DART?

Already is

MOH

goingnowhere wrote: »

Already is

I was on the DART for the first time in ages last week and was surprised to find free wi-fi available.

Turned it off within five minutes, it was rubbish.

bmaxi

On the Rosslare line, certainly from Gorey, it's virtually unusable too as the terrain is so hilly, really only connects in towns. I can appreciate what the problem is but wonder was there any research done at all into how effective the system would be or is it just like a lot of the "technological advances" rolled out by state bodies which are just so much window dressing.

MOH

bmaxi wrote: »

On the Rosslare line, certainly from Gorey, it's virtually unusable too as the terrain is so hilly, really only connects in towns. I can appreciate what the problem is but wonder was there any research done at all into how effective the system would be or is it just like a lot of the "technological advances" rolled out by state bodies which are just so much window dressing.

Bear in mind that for at least 4 years Irish Rail in their infinite wisdom insisted wifi was pointless as it would soon be obsolete:

Irish Rail FAQ 2008 wrote:

Is there Wi-Fi technology onboard IÉ trains so I can access the internet?
Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) feels that it wouldn’t be in the public or the company’s best interest to install the current wireless technologies on its fleet for customer use due to the limited lifespan of said technologies. Anything we install now is likely to be completely redundant within five years.

We feel customers would be better supported by obtaining their own wireless solutions, such as those provided by the mobile providers (3G and GPRS/EDGE ).

IÉ is hoping that near-future new technologies such as WiMax and other long range wireless tech will make the idea of onboard solutions redundant. We will continue to monitor the speed of advance of such technologies and if we deem that change is not occurring quickly enough we may reconsider the situation.

Of course, now that 3G+ coverage has reached a point where it actually is a viable alternative, they've decided to waste money installing a wifi system which is often inferior.

goingnowhere

Back in 2007 that was the case, 3G coverage was very poor and the on train tech was still in its infancy

Move on to 2012, but the on train gear is second or third generation, is LTE/4G compatible, had they installed back in 2007 the gear would be obsolete by now as it would'nt even manage HSPDA

I'm not complaining sitting on a 29k currently performance is pretty stunning

Solair

You just whack in a few new LTE cards, the wifi infrastructure in the train itself is the expensive bit.

You can't really just hold off on rolling stuff out forever either though as there's always something faster around the corner when it comes to wireless technology.

The main advantage of the WiFi is that it is letting you access a router that's got a decent antenna outside the train!

A USB dongle will never get the same kind of reception in the steel body of the train.

bk

Lets be honest, the only reason Irish Rail started rolling out free wifi, was because the private bus companies started rolling it out first and IR had to do the same to remain competitive.

I've been saying for years that all trains needed to have free wifi and power in order to maximise it's few advantages, being able to work and play onboard.

The excuse about wifi becoming redundant showed just how little IR understood technology. Wifi was always set to become the definitive wireless technology in all wireless devices. New wireless technologies, like 4G, etc. can easily be fitted to existing on board wifi as the technology changes while still being backwards compatible with the majority of portable devices.

DubOnHoliday

Wifi shouldn't be advertised on southbound darts from Connolly or the Rosslare service as it is unusable.