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http://irishrail.ie/news_centre/news...ew&news_id=981

FREE WI-FI TO BE INTRODUCED ACROSS DUBLIN-CORK INTERCITY SERVICES by Corporate Communications

FREE WI-FI TO BE INTRODUCED ACROSS DUBLIN-CORK INTERCITY SERVICES FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL TRIAL PERIOD

Iarnród Éireann has announced that it is to extend Wi-Fi service across the full Dublin-Cork Intercity fleet following a successful trial on one train on the route.

Furthermore, the company is to assess the coverage and reliability of Wi-Fi technology on other routes on the national network, with a view to further expansion.

Selected services on Dublin-Cork were equipped with Wi-Fi between March and October of this year, and the uptake from customers has been enthusiastic.

A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann said “given the nature of the trial, and the fact that it was restricted to selected services, the usage of Wi-Fi was extremely high. Many customers would not have known the service they were boarding had Wi-Fi but still availed of it in heavy numbers. As well as offering increasingly competitive journey times, we can offer productive time to our customers – for work, reading, or viewing - and the roll-out of Wi-Fi will enhance this dramatically. Customers will be able access the Internet to check their email, surf the web, play games and connect to their corporate network. The system will be available for everyone to use once they have a Wi-Fi enabled device such as a Laptop, IPhone or smart phone.”

Iarnród Éireann have now gone to tender for a supplier of Wi-Fi on the Dublin-Cork fleet of 67 carriages, and it is expected the service will be introduced in the first quarter of the New Year. The company also intends to offer Wi-Fi for free to customers.

“We tested customer demand for both free Wi-Fi and pay-per-usage, and while demand was strong throughout, it is clear that customers see a major benefit in Wi-Fi on-board, meaning it is a marketing tool in itself. Free Wi-Fi will increase demand for our services. Together with discount fares, a modern comfortable fleet of trains, faster journey times, and on-board catering, the quality of our Intercity services is increasing all the time, and meeting our customer’s demands more and more.”