Irish Rail now charging for Wi-Fi

[markpb]

Originally Posted by ACustomer

"Free" WiFi, if it attracts extra customers (estecially Premium or 1st Class), does not need an explicit user charge to justify it.

Once again, Irish Rail have completely missed the point. Most of the major IC bus operators now provide free Wifi. I'm sure there are technical reasons why wifi is harder to provide on trains but ultimately, Irish Rail have to compete with bus companies. If they can't compete on price, can barely compete on time and (in my experience on Aircoach to Belfast and BE to other places) can't compete on comfort, what exactly do they think is their appeal?

[Mark Gleeson]

Of course it should be free, but this is a trial and the provider of the equipment is not being paid by Irish Rail from what we know

Other railway administrations do charge, GNER in the UK used to charge but removed the charge once they have recouped the investment. This is sensitivity analysis.

We have discussed this charge with Irish Rail and it looks unlikely to be long term its just a trial element and its likely impact is known. Since this is a trial it all could come to a halt in 3 months time depending on the business assessment

[comcor]

They could make it free for 1st class passengers, but paid for by the rest.

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by comcor

They could make it free for 1st class passengers, but paid for by the rest.

The on train equipment allows for that setup

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=700

Tuesday 29th June
06:30 Cork Heuston
10:00 Heuston Cork
13:30 Cork Heuston
17:00 Heuston Cork
20:30 Cork Heuston

Wednesday 30th June
07:00 Heuston Cork
10:30 Cork Heuston
14:00 Heuston Cork
17:30 Cork Heuston

[corktina]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Of course it should be free, but this is a trial and the provider of the equipment is not being paid by Irish Rail from what we know

Other railway administrations do charge, GNER in the UK used to charge but removed the charge once they have recouped the investment. This is sensitivity analysis.

We have discussed this charge with Irish Rail and it looks unlikely to be long term its just a trial element and its likely impact is known. Since this is a trial it all could come to a halt in 3 months time depending on the business assessment

gNEr ? discredited and now compulsoraly defunct gNEr are not a good example to follow necessarily. Surely the Bus Operators would be a better model to use. I travelled by coach in the UK a couple of weeks ago.The ffee wifi was VERY popular.Add in the better working enviroment on a train and free wifi could be a major USP

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=700

Wi-Fi trial on selected Cork-Dublin Intercity services by Corporate Communications

No wi-fi services this weekend

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/general_news.asp?action=view&news_id=700

No wi-fi services 18th August

http://twitter.com/irishrail/

Hi, one train equipped for wi-fi on the route: currently in routine maintenance, check link for updates http://bit.ly/dluoYH

about 8 hours ago via TweetDeck in reply to inflight_wifi

[Mark Gleeson]

I'm told the set has been split up for maintenance so it could be a few days before it gets reassembled.

The trial period will be up soon so we should hopefully get news on if a full fleet fit out is going ahead or not.

[Colm Moore]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

I'm told the set has been split up for maintenance so it could be a few days before it gets reassembled.

The trial period will be up soon so we should hopefully get news on if a full fleet fit out is going ahead or not.

You mean they could have 2 sets partially with Wi-Fi if they wanted?