Skift Take
Anyone who has used in-flight Wi-Fi knows it can have spottiness issues, too, but Amtrak's challenges are even greater.
Amtrak has announced plans to test an upgrade of its notoriously inconsistent onboard Wi-Fi to faster 4G networks, but because the fix still uses Wi-Fi from a wireless company on a moving train, the best commuters can hope for is very fast Internet… very occasionally.
For now, the updated Wi-Fi only runs on Acela routes from Washington, D.C. to New York to Boston. But even for those lab-rat commuters, a new kind of network doesn’t solve Amtrak’s biggest Wi-Fi problem: spottiness. As anyone who has upgraded from a 3G to 4G LTE cellphone knows, the network switch provides a huge boost in download and uploads speeds. But speed isn’t Amtrak’s issue, ultimately, so you can expect all that Twitter complaining to continue.
The Daily Newsletter
Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.
Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch
Photo credit: Amtrak hopes this Wi-Fi notice from 2010, warning passengers to avoid streaming video, becomes an outdated concern with its new 4G service. John M. / Flickr.com