Sure, who wants that intenet thing
Author: will | Filed under: 2008, cloud computing, engineering, idiot, mobile phones, opinion, opportunity, overheard, travel“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.” — Iarnród Éireann’s own F.A.Q.
Image via WikipediaNow a state body such as Iarnród Éireann (or Irish Rail) if you prefer) being behind the times when it comes to technology is not too surprising, but given that there are huge drops in not only 3G broadband but GSM coverage along the main Irish rail routes the company has a potential killing on their hands.
Even if a current mobile broadband carrier offered to install the local technology on even their First Class (City Gold) carriages and you’ll find that the number of business users would increase. I mean, you have just given a very valid incentive to pay for a “City Gold” ticket! Remember that “cloud computing” is an option used by a lot of companies. For that to work an internet connection is needed. On a almost three hour train trip from Dublin – Cork you can get a lot done. A similar time (usually with a change of train) exists on a Dublin – Limerick trip. Sligo takes even longer. When you have a captive audience, use them.
What would you pay for a “single trip” password to use the internet connection on the train? Either sell the “scratch card” style access for the rest of the train or offer it in the same way that you used to have smoking carriages.
As for the five year limit… you CAN have multiple wireless services on the same train. You are missing out on a chance to make a lot of money Irish Rail (and the mobile carriers are missing out by by leaving “coverage holes” on the route).
Buck up boys. Buck up.
Will Knott
Tags: 3G, GSM, Iarnród Éireann, Rail, Trains, Transport, wireless
May 9th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Do any of the European trains have wireless?
May 9th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I have absolutely no idea. Anyone else know?
May 9th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
@evertb answered … “Thalys trains in Belgium have had wifi since about 2005″ and “NS (Dutch national railroad) has wifi in stations and some trains..”
May 9th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
The really stupid thing is that we would install wifi in all trains across Ireland at no cost to Iarnród Éireann at all.
If only they were interested.
Give me a call boys!
May 9th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Good article on the subject: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/10/business/trains11.php
May 9th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
As someone who does use and will be using much more the rail link between Limerick and Dublin as wel as the rest of the rail service. It is extremely annoyong that I can’t use the internet at all. As Will points out I could geta lot done in those 3 hours.
I say we put a bit of pressure on to get this done. It’s bloody ridiculous not to have this service for a captive audience. Would I pay 5-10 euro for that service? Yes I would.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
I’m doing a linkedin search, does anyone have a connection in Irish Rail / Iarnród Éireann that we can approach?
May 10th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I’m taking my first train to Dublin in year (I usually drive) next Tuesday from Charleville. I’m not sure I’ll even bring my laptop with me because I don’t have one of those mobile operator dongles for mobile broadband. It makes no sense for me to subscribe to such a service for the relatively few times I would need it. When I booked my ticket yesteday I was surprised to see a €20+ difference between Standard class and Premier Class. However if I knew I’d have seamless broadband for the duration of the jouney, dedicated power point and a quieter more comfortable carriage for working in I’d happily pay that premium.
Any luck finding a connection (pun intended) to Irish Rail on LinkedIn? Keep up the pressure Will !
May 10th, 2008 at 8:33 am
http://tinyurl.com/5a5g3y
May 17th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I’m surprised its not available.
On a few UK trains a few weeks back it was nice.
But what I know from over here
Lal
May 20th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
They have a point, though; if they invest lots of money in it now, what do they do in a few years when every laptop has a HSDPA interface and there’s decent 3G coverage?
May 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
But it need not cost that much money (when compared to any other government project). And given that the current network doesn’t have complete 2G coverage (and hasn’t had it for years) I doubt that the train network is something that the network operators are paying attention to.