Queensland providing free Wi-Fi on city trains

In an Australian first, free wireless internet technology will be rolled out on all new Queensland Rail city trains from later this year. The announcement follows a successful Wi-Fi trial and the Queensland government will now spend AU$6.5 million (US$6.98 million) installing the technology in new trains. "The trial has been a huge success, the technology has been installed and is now fully operational on the test-train with customers able to sit, back and take advantage of the free internet on their journe
March 23, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
In an Australian first, free wireless internet technology will be rolled out on all new 4227 Queensland Rail city trains from later this year. The announcement follows a successful Wi-Fi trial and the Queensland government will now spend AU$6.5 million (US$6.98 million) installing the technology in new trains.

"The trial has been a huge success, the technology has been installed and is now fully operational on the test-train with customers able to sit, back and take advantage of the free internet on their journey to and from work" said transport minister Annastacia Palaszczuk. "Installation on the first of 64 new trains will begin in October and we're expecting to have Wi-Fi installed across the entire 160 and 260 series fleet by the end of next year.

According to Queensland Rail CEO Paul Scurrah, "This project isn't only about free internet for our customers, but it also increases our security capacity by allowing live streaming from our CCTV cameras on board the Wi-Fi trains.

The Wi-Fi trial started late last year on one train which travelled across the City network. The trial included tests of 3G coverage capability of internet and CCTV live streaming. There was an average of 228 weekly users on the test train, with more than 5,000 in total during the trial.
Networking & Communication Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • The free and open internet is dead
    June 25, 2018
    A key US vote may have changed what internet service providers are allowed to charge and how they restrict content: Joe Dysart explains why this has consequences for ITS companies. While most people were rushing around last December, grabbing last-minute gifts for the holidays, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to drive a stake into the heart of the free and open internet. In a majority vote, the agency killed ‘net neutrality’ - a policy that has prevented your regional internet service
    Read More
  • NSW government unveils apps to track trains in real-time
    April 12, 2013
    The New South Wales government (NSW) in Australia has introduced six mobile applications for train users in Sydney to track arrival of trains in real-time using satellite information. State Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian unveiled the updated apps that will have the real-time capability, making use of markers on stations that will receive information from trains, and then pass it on to the apps. Funded by the state government, one of the apps gives voice-over notification to remind users to exit
    Read More
  • Predicting the future for video camera systems
    March 12, 2012
    Jo Versavel, Managing Director of Traficon, talks about near-term trends in video camera systems. Jo Versavel starts by making one thing clear: long-term forecasts as to what the future holds for video-based traffic monitoring are to all intents and purposes meaningless. The state of the art is developing so fast that in reality it's impossible to say where we'll be in 10 years' time, says the Managing Director of Traficon. In his opinion making firm predictions even five years out is too ambitious, whereas
    Read More
  • US economic stimulus package highlights ITS technology
    July 17, 2012
    US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood talks to ITS International about economic stimulus funding and the absolute need to maintain and increase the use of technology in transportation. Of the total of $787 billion of funding announced under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the economic stimulus package which was signed into law by US President Barack Obama on 17 February 2009, $48.1 billion will go to the US Department of Transportation (USDOT). Of that, $27.5 billion is for highway in
    Read More

Highlighted Content