All intercity trains fitted with free wifi - Page 3

longword · 18-01-2013, 07:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas Ralph

Have they blocked streaming yet?

The big name streaming streaming services (Youtube, Netflix, iPlayer, RTE Player) have been blocked pretty much from the start plus a few other bulk data users like Windows updates and they have updated the banned list at least once. At least some radio streams, which are lower bandwidth, are not blocked. There are plenty of ways around it the block, but they do ask nicely on the captive portal page that passengers not do it.

Personally, on a busy Northern Commuter train I find the coverage more reliable than a mobile but lower performance - easier to stay connected longer to a company VPN for example. However there are days when the system is clearly less than 100% functional.

Mark Gleeson · 19-02-2013, 14:25

Good news finally

The Google map that used to appear on the sign in page to show you where the train is has been removed. This was a suggestion put forward by RUI and was implemented within 48 hours. This change happened 3 weeks ago and as a result the sign in process is noticeably quicker.

The sign in page is to be totally replaced in coming days

1. New Irish Rail branding and website look
2. Registration/email no longer required, simple 'Accept T&C's

There are a number of coaches floating around with no wifi signal, they seem to be getting fixed one by one

seamus kilcock · 22-02-2013, 14:50

Are all intercity trains now fitted with plug sockets for ALL passengers?

Jamie2k9 · 22-02-2013, 15:01

ICR have sockets for most passengers.

Mark Gleeson · 22-02-2013, 16:14

Every seat on the intercity railcar fleet has a socket

On Dublin Cork Express trains, power sockets only in first class, or rear seats 05/06 in all standard class coaches. Dublin Belfast, first class only

All DART and Commuter trains have sockets as well normally at the carriage ends, under the seat

All have WIFI

James Howard · 22-02-2013, 16:22

You cannot 100% depend on getting an ICR on routes they are supposed to be used. The commuter Railcars are used for some services to Sligo and as Mark says, there are only sockets at the end of the cars.

These don't always work and they are also positioned in such a way that you can't really access them from a seat with a table with the exception of the seats right outside the able-bodied toilets. If you just want to charge a phone, you'll be fine on any train if you sit at the end of the car but if you want to use a 15" or bigger laptop you are probably be out of luck as it isn't really possible to manage anything bigger than a 13" on seats with power on a commuter railcar.

haddockman · 02-03-2013, 18:04

The problem is the wifi is virtually unusable as it is so slow and patchy. Particularly slow from Ballybrophy to LJ.

I find using my own phone is faster and more reliable.

Inniskeen · 02-03-2013, 22:37

At best very slow, typically unusable.

MP54 · 02-02-2016, 15:22

What have peoples' impressions of this service been over the last 3 years? Personally, on the northern corridor, particularly the 29ks, I find it very slow and unreliable, particularly the log-in process. I just usually revert to the 3G on the phone (reminder to get a 4G phone asap) or give up altogether in exasperation.

The NIR log-in is typically faster, I find, the few times I get to use it, and the service a bit better, blackspots notwithstanding.

Jamie2k9 · 02-02-2016, 22:17

Do not really use it that often but It was been improved massively since it first started however there is still a long way to go about coverage on the network.

James Howard · 03-02-2016, 06:29

I rarely use it as I find a personal hotspot on my 4G phone works a lot better. I go between Connolly and Edgeworthstown. The login process is still terrible but the speed isn't so bad on the rare occasion I do us it.

There seems to be bug in the login in that it looks like it is spending most of its time trying to figure out if you have already logged in. The page appears mostly instantly but the interface can be disabled for 30 seconds or longer. Quite painful really.

Mark Gleeson · 03-02-2016, 06:39

Compared to offerings elsewhere in Europe, Irish Rail is better than average, what it lets it down is coverage. There are 500,000 sign ins/month currently.

Northern Ireland Railways can be fun with VPN's.

Apple's handling of sign in pages is non nonsensical which makes life tricky.

4G is being rolled out starting with the Cork fleet and it makes a big difference.

Just bear in mind, 100+ in a coach all sharing a single access point isn't going to work no matter how good the connection from the train to the internet is.

Jamie2k9 · 03-02-2016, 11:51

Investing in 4G when the Cork line is probably one of the worst lines for coverage, very poor between Portlaoise-Mallow especially until Limerick J.

I think if IE asked Cork customer's sockets are number 1 priority not wifi.

James Howard · 03-02-2016, 14:07

If the networking system was put together any way sensibly, upgrading it should be just a matter of swapping out a few modems. No way should it cost more than a couple of grand per train.

Adding sockets at each seat is a far more expensive proposition unless the carriages are being pulled apart for another reason.

19-02-2013, 14:25	#42
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	Good news finally The Google map that used to appear on the sign in page to show you where the train is has been removed. This was a suggestion put forward by RUI and was implemented within 48 hours. This change happened 3 weeks ago and as a result the sign in process is noticeably quicker. The sign in page is to be totally replaced in coming days 1. New Irish Rail branding and website look 2. Registration/email no longer required, simple 'Accept T&C's There are a number of coaches floating around with no wifi signal, they seem to be getting fixed one by one __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

22-02-2013, 14:50	#43
seamus kilcock Regular Poster Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 103	plug sockets Are all intercity trains now fitted with plug sockets for ALL passengers?

22-02-2013, 16:14	#45
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	Every seat on the intercity railcar fleet has a socket On Dublin Cork Express trains, power sockets only in first class, or rear seats 05/06 in all standard class coaches. Dublin Belfast, first class only All DART and Commuter trains have sockets as well normally at the carriage ends, under the seat All have WIFI __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

03-02-2016, 06:39	#52
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	Compared to offerings elsewhere in Europe, Irish Rail is better than average, what it lets it down is coverage. There are 500,000 sign ins/month currently. Northern Ireland Railways can be fun with VPN's. Apple's handling of sign in pages is non nonsensical which makes life tricky. 4G is being rolled out starting with the Cork fleet and it makes a big difference. Just bear in mind, 100+ in a coach all sharing a single access point isn't going to work no matter how good the connection from the train to the internet is. __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

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22-02-2013, 15:01	#44
Jamie2k9 Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 2,146	ICR have sockets for most passengers.

22-02-2013, 16:22	#46
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	You cannot 100% depend on getting an ICR on routes they are supposed to be used. The commuter Railcars are used for some services to Sligo and as Mark says, there are only sockets at the end of the cars. These don't always work and they are also positioned in such a way that you can't really access them from a seat with a table with the exception of the seats right outside the able-bodied toilets. If you just want to charge a phone, you'll be fine on any train if you sit at the end of the car but if you want to use a 15" or bigger laptop you are probably be out of luck as it isn't really possible to manage anything bigger than a 13" on seats with power on a commuter railcar.

02-03-2013, 18:04	#47
haddockman Regular Poster Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 113	The problem is the wifi is virtually unusable as it is so slow and patchy. Particularly slow from Ballybrophy to LJ. I find using my own phone is faster and more reliable.

02-03-2013, 22:37	#48
Inniskeen Really Regular Poster Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 951	At best very slow, typically unusable.

02-02-2016, 15:22	#49
MP54 New to the board Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dundalk Posts: 11	What have peoples' impressions of this service been over the last 3 years? Personally, on the northern corridor, particularly the 29ks, I find it very slow and unreliable, particularly the log-in process. I just usually revert to the 3G on the phone (reminder to get a 4G phone asap) or give up altogether in exasperation. The NIR log-in is typically faster, I find, the few times I get to use it, and the service a bit better, blackspots notwithstanding.

02-02-2016, 22:17	#50
Jamie2k9 Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 2,146	Do not really use it that often but It was been improved massively since it first started however there is still a long way to go about coverage on the network.

03-02-2016, 06:29	#51
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	I rarely use it as I find a personal hotspot on my 4G phone works a lot better. I go between Connolly and Edgeworthstown. The login process is still terrible but the speed isn't so bad on the rare occasion I do us it. There seems to be bug in the login in that it looks like it is spending most of its time trying to figure out if you have already logged in. The page appears mostly instantly but the interface can be disabled for 30 seconds or longer. Quite painful really.

03-02-2016, 11:51	#53
Jamie2k9 Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 2,146	Investing in 4G when the Cork line is probably one of the worst lines for coverage, very poor between Portlaoise-Mallow especially until Limerick J. I think if IE asked Cork customer's sockets are number 1 priority not wifi.

03-02-2016, 14:07	#54
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	If the networking system was put together any way sensibly, upgrading it should be just a matter of swapping out a few modems. No way should it cost more than a couple of grand per train. Adding sockets at each seat is a far more expensive proposition unless the carriages are being pulled apart for another reason.