Metra announced the completed installation of cellular Wi-Fi hotspots on one railcar for each of its 11 Chicago commuter rail lines as part of a pilot program to determine whether the technology can provide free and dependable Internet access to customers.

The pilot program is similar to one recently launched by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) on its South Shore Line. Like the NICTD program, this Wi-Fi service is available on a car-by-car basis instead of a full train.

“We continue to explore ways to provide free Wi-Fi on our trains and hope our customers will tell us if they find these new hotspots valuable,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “If it’s financially feasible and our customers like the free service, our agency would seek funding or sponsorships to install Wi-Fi on more of Metra’s railcars.”

—Passenger Train Journal