If fare increase, give us WiFi, Yes?

So NJ Transit is apparently going to give us a fare increase (to be coupled with reduction in services too). I am not happy about a fare increase, but would be much happier if they started giving us free WiFi on the trains. My cell reception on the train for the most part stinks, so WiFi would be cool. What do others think?

And free snacks. And complimentary cocktails.

A seat..I'd settle for always having a seat. (Oh and on-time service. too!)

RobinM2 said:
So NJ Transit is apparently going to give us a fare increase (to be coupled with reduction in services too). I am not happy about a fare increase, but would be much happier if they started giving us free WiFi on the trains. My cell reception on the train for the most part stinks, so WiFi would be cool. What do others think?

What do you think this is, 2015?

SMH

Train WiFi is ultimately going over a 4G network, just like your iPhone.

I agree!! Does MetroNorth have it

Wifi would be another 9 pct

RobB said:
Train WiFi is ultimately going over a 4G network, just like your iPhone.

For that reason, it would fail spectacularly if the cellular carriers (or at least one of them) didn't first do a major buildout along the rail lines. This is really more up to a carrier than the rail line. The internet is actually analogous to a network of pipes. Narrow pipes don't carry as much water as wide pipes. Putting wifi on a train doesn't magically grow the pipes.

A number of years ago NJT issued an RFP for train WiFi. I have no idea what ever happened.

I'd pay another 9% to block all cellular signals and turn each car into a Quiet Car...But needs me WiFi

rbcole123 said:
A number of years ago NJT issued an RFP for train WiFi. I have no idea what ever happened.

If it was years ago, my guess is that none of the carriers was ready to provide that kind of service. I don't even know what is possible these days. Demand almost always outstrips supply, especially when people want to pay little or nothing.

Hold up. So you can get WIFI on a plane but not on a train??? Really?? Seriously???

Tom it's tubes the Internet is a series of tubes

Well, not on NJ Transit trains.

And in fairness to NJT, most people have cellular data plans but very few (none?) have satellite data plans.

At least the train engineers will not be going on strike tomorrow:

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/07/obama_appoints_emergency_board_in_nj_transit_labor.html

pmartinezv said:
Hold up. So you can get WIFI on a plane but not on a train??? Really?? Seriously???

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/world-of-tech/future-tech/how-does-airplane-wi-fi-work-and-will-it-ever-get-any-better--1171510

This is what we need, forget 3G and 4G, we need this set up along the train routes. And inMaplewood. From NPR:

http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/03/02/389250795/free-wi-fi-on-buses-offers-a-link-to-future-of-smart-cities

When we were in Costa Rica earlier this year we noticed that many of the car services advertised that their cars were WiFi equipped. In our case, at least, it turned out that meant that the drivers cellphone was set up as a hotspot, so it was only as good as the cell signal.