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We go now to our blogger, reporting live from the Worcester line

By adamg on Wed, 01/30/2008 - 9:57am

Jeff Egnaczyk is on the 7:40 train out of Back Bay. Come in, Jeff, can you hear us?

I only have two bars. I'm thinking the WiFi is in another car. It's kind of slow. I think I'm in Newton right now.

Topics: 
The T
Technology
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Free tagging: 
wifi
Commuter rail
Worcester Line


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Comments

By adamg on Wed, 01/30/2008 - 2:43pm.

Train Rider rode the Worcester Line into Boston this morning and reports how the whole WiFi thing set one conductor off:

She said something like "why do you think the T is spending this money? To appease you when the trains are late! Why not use the money to fix doors that are broken or update the HVAC units? It's a waste."

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By Stoughton Line (mostly) on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 12:14pm.

I suspect the answer lies in what can be done, against what we wish might be done. Adding WiFi to commuter rail shouldn't cost very much, yet is a huge improvement to the overall experience, especially for folks with a long ride. I was lucky to find a Worcester test car on my train yesterday, and enjoyed browsing for my brief ride to Hyde Park. If faced with a longer commute, Internet access would be a very compelling factor in selecting the train over driving, and would for me (and I suspect many others) net favorably against some of the remaining problems.

If WiFi brings more riders, that means more revenue that can then be used to fix some of the more difficult systemic issues. I'm all for this sort of small cost/big return investment.

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