Queensland Rail Free Wi-Fi

[ozbob]

Transport and Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Friday, July 29, 2011

$6.5 million to deliver Wi Fi on trains

In an Australian first free wireless internet technology will be rolled out on all new Queensland Rail city trains from later this year, Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said today.

The announcement follows a successful Wi Fi trial and the government will now spend $6.5 million installing the technology in new trains.

"This has never been done before on trains in Australia so we are again raising the bar when it comes to customer service," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"The trial has been a huge success, the technology has been installed and is now fully operational on the test-train with customers able to sit back and take advantage of the free internet on their journey to and from work."

"Installation on the first of 64 new trains will begin in October and we're expecting to have Wi-Fi installed across the entire 160 and 260 series fleet by the end of next year.

"These trains travel across the entire City network, so at any time, anywhere, a train commuter can access the internet for free.

"This is an excellent outcome for Queenslanders and another example of the smart state leading the way."

Queensland Rail CEO Paul Scurrah said the Wi-Fi trial had allowed the technological bugs to be ironed out to allow a smooth implementation across the fleet.

"It was essential to get everything right in the trial to avoid costly and time-consuming issues when the technology was installed more broadly," Mr Scurrah said.

"This project isn't only about free internet for our customers, but it also increases our security capacity by allowing live streaming from our CCTV cameras on board the Wi-Fi trains.

"I am proud to say Queensland Rail is able to offer its customers with more than just a way of getting from A to B by improving the overall experience when they travel with us."

The Wi-Fi trial started late last year on one train which travelled across the City network.

The trial included tests of 3G coverage capability of internet and CCTV live streaming. There was an average of 228 weekly users on the test train, with more than 5000 in total during the trial.

[ozbob]

Media release 29 July 2011

SEQ: WiFi on trains welcome, but particularly the increased real-time security capability

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers welcomes the Minister for Transport's announcement today that WiFi internet services will be rolled out on 160 and 260 series Queensland Rail trains (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The successful trial of WiFi on the test train is welcome news. Many RAIL Back On Track members have used the service and it worked well (2)."

"The WiFi is actually provided on the back of a real time CCTV capability. This is a very significant improvement and will allow authorities to observe on board in real time. The fact that WiFi will be accessible from the new trains as well is a bonus!"

"Queensland Rail has achieved a lot in improving the passenger experience when using the rail network. The next step is to increase out of peak train service frequency on all lines as we now have between Northgate and Darra."

References:

1. http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=75861

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4730.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Brisbane trains to get Wi-Fi from October

Brisbane trains to get Wi-Fi from October
July 29, 2011 - 8:35AM

Brisbane commuters will get free Wi-Fi on Queensland Rail's city network from later this year.

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the $6.5 million Wi-Fi roll-out on new metropolitan passenger trains was an Australian first.

It has been given the go-ahead after a successful trial.

"This has never been done before on trains in Australia so we are again raising the bar when it comes to customer service," Ms Palaszczuk said today.

Installation on the first of 64 new trains will begin in October.

The long haul Sunlander passenger train is expected to have Wi-Fi available in 2014.

Queensland Rail chief Paul Scurrah said the trial had allowed technological bugs to be ironed out.

"It was essential to get everything right in the trial to avoid costly and time-consuming issues when the technology was installed more broadly," Mr Scurrah said.

He said Wi-Fi also gave the trains a security benefit.

"This project isn't only about free internet for our customers," Mr Scurrah said.

"It also increases our security capacity by allowing live streaming from our CCTV cameras on board the Wi-Fi trains."

More than 5000 passengers used the service during the trial.

AAP

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/brisbane-trains-to-get-wifi-from-october-20110729-1i2wo.html

[ozbob]

From Couriermail click here!

Free wi-fi on trains better late than never

Free wi-fi on trains better late than never

   by Robyn Ironside
   From: The Courier-Mail

RAIL commuters in south-east Queensland will finally have access to free wi-fi on trains by the end of next year - three-and-a-half years after the plan was first announced by the State Government.

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the government will spend $6.5 million installing the technology in all new city trains, with the whole fleet to be fitted out by the end of 2012.

It follows a $900,000 trial involving hundreds of people a week to try to identify any potential pitfalls of the new technology which involves 3G coverage capability.

Ms Palaszczuk said the initiative was a first for Australian trains and was an "excellent outcome for Queenslanders".

"The trial has been a huge success, the technology has been installed and is now fully operational on the test-train with customers able to sit back and take advantage of the free internet on their journey to and from work," she said.

"Installation on the first of 64 new trains will begin in October and we're expecting to have wi-fi installed across the entire 160 and 260 series fleet by the end of next year."

Former Transport Minister Rachel Nolan originally announced the intention to make free wi-fi available on trains in April 2009.

Queensland Rail chief executive Paul Scurrah said the addition of the technology came with an added benefit for passengers.

"This project isn't only about free internet for our customers, but it also increases our security capacity by allowing live streaming from our CCTV cameras on board the wi-fi trains," Mr Scurrah said.

"I am proud to say Queensland Rail is able to offer its customers with more than just a way of getting from A to B by improving the overall experience when they travel with us."

Commuter advocacy group Back on Track welcomed the announcement and the additional security boost.

"This is a very significant improvement and will allow authorities to observe on board in real time," said Robert Dow from Back on Track.

"The fact that wi-fi will be accessible from the new trains as well is a bonus."

He said the next step for Queensland Rail should be increasing peak train service frequency on all lines.

[achiruel]

Just out of interest, is free wi-fi available on TravelTrains as well?  I can see there being some demand for it to fill in time on long trips.

[BribieG]

Who will be doing the CCTV "real time" monitoring? At the moment is there a monitor in the guards / drivers cabs and if not then what are the guards supposed to be guarding? Or will there be a central monitoring station like the police traffic monitoring systems they have in various forms around the world? I travel offpeak and evenings and it would be nice if - for example - a "race gang" streams onto the train at Toombul and someone is actually watching them as they carve up the seats or scratching the windows.

[SurfRail]

My understanding was that there would be centralised real-time monitoring, with train crew also being able to patch into the feed on their own train.

[ozbob]

Twitter

AnnastaciaMP AnnastaciaPalaszczuk

Caught the new Wi-Fi enabled train, which will allow @QueenslandRail commuters to stay connected whilst on the train http://t.co/DAhGSTV
1 hour ago

[Fares_Fair]

 

[ozbob]

Just out of interest, is free wi-fi available on TravelTrains as well?  I can see there being some demand for it to fill in time on long trips.

" The long haul Sunlander passenger train is expected to have Wi-Fi available in 2014. "

Post above --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4730.msg64397#msg64397

[p858snake]

@squashedpeaches: @QueenslandRail what about wifi at stats as well?its where we are the most. @internode already offer this service free http://bit.ly/r48fjM

@QueenslandRail: @squashedpeaches we've actually found people prefer to wait at home/office and get to stations just few mins early - so trains were priority

(I guess the person isn't a FG liner :p)

[Arnz]

Has the Wi-Fi train (SMU261) made its way to Rosewood or Gold Coast recently?

I've only seen it once (a few weeks ago) heading up our way (Sunshine Coast), and only seen it twice overall north of Caboolture.  It has however made regular appearances to Caboolture.

[p858snake]

Seems to hit the Ipswich line a lot from what I see on twitter and on here, Did it ever make its way to to the sunshine coast?


Anyone know which service the minister was on today?

[Arnz]

Seems to hit the Ipswich line a lot from what I see on twitter and on here, Did it ever make its way to to the sunshine coast?


Anyone know which service the minister was on today?

261 made an appearance as the lead unit on the 5pm to Nambour on the first day of new service (July 11 - approx over 2 weeks ago).

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times 30th July 2011 page 18

Rail commuters get connected

[Golliwog]

Just out of interest, they keep saying its only on the new trains. Whats the deal with the security cameras on the older trains? Are they viewable in realtime already using some other system?

[ozbob]

Just out of interest, they keep saying its only on the new trains. Whats the deal with the security cameras on the older trains? Are they viewable in realtime already using some other system?

No the cameras just record.  Can be reviewed after the event as needed.

[BrizCommuter]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2011/07/free-wi-fi-at-last.html
So QR can now get live CCTV of how overcrowded their trains are?

[p858snake]

Just out of interest, they keep saying its only on the new trains. Whats the deal with the security cameras on the older trains? Are they viewable in realtime already using some other system?

Slightly Offtopic: Don't some of the older trains still lack CCTV? (Something I noticed when I saw people vandalising a window yesterday (Reported to QR))

[HappyTrainGuy]

some 30/40EMUs IIRC

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 29th July 2011 page 2

All aboard wi-fi trains

[BribieG]

some 30/40EMUs IIRC

Perfect for quaffing that six pack on the way home to pick up the car 

[ButFli]

Hey,

Won't free wifi really mess things up for mX? I mean... who is going to read printed trash-news when they could read digital trash-news on the internet?

[Fares_Fair]

ouch !   

[ozbob]

Never fear, we will no doubt we will have e-mX, for those fortunates travelling on 160s and 260s series units ...  the rest, well, you will just have to put up with the paper!

[Derwan]

Just out of interest, they keep saying its only on the new trains. Whats the deal with the security cameras on the older trains? Are they viewable in realtime already using some other system?

No the cameras just record.  Can be reviewed after the event as needed.

IIRC there are screens for guards in SMU (200/220 series) & IMU's (100/120 series), but the older EMU's are only recorded.  Happy to be corrected. 

[petey3801]

All units have CCTV monitors in the cabs. Some are better than others, but they all have them.

[longboi]

160/260s have the best ones  It has driver's view as well as internals

[Golliwog]

On the free wi-fi thing, I was on a Citycat recently and noted that as well as the eduroam network (which can be accessed by both QUT and UQ students, not sure about Griffith, etc) there was also one called Citycat Wireless (or something similar), which was there for everyone to use. I connected and found its downside though, you are only able to connect to about 6 websites (UQ, BCC, Translink, ourbrisbane.com [didn't that one shut down recently?] and a few others, there was a list it gave you).

[ozbob]

IT Wire --> Free Wi-Fi can push commuters on to public transport

[Derwan]

Apparently this is still on track to be rolled out in November. 

[Fares_Fair]

We have rarely seen it on the Sunshine Coast line.
Does anyone know what number and train type the trial version is ? (e.g. IMU262 ?)

Regards,
Fares-Fair.

[Arnz]

Still SMU261 atm, but now in all 3 carriages (was only one carriage before)

[Fares_Fair]

Still SMU261 atm, but now in all 3 carriages (was only one carriage before)

Thanks Arnz. 

Regards,
Fares-Fair.

[p858snake]

We have rarely seen it on the Sunshine Coast line.
Does anyone know what number and train type the trial version is ? (e.g. IMU262 ?)

Regards,
Fares-Fair.

You really want that train to do the sunny coast line?

[Fares_Fair]

You're right, an SMU260 series has no toliet facilities so it wouldn't be good to run it on the longest line in the network.
Hence its reported use only up to Caboolture.

I mean it would make sense to have WiFi on the long haul trips where it would be most utilised by commuters eager to make good use of the longer journey times. (*irony)

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Derwan]

Looks like it will only be the 160 and 260 series trains (as suspected):

"Following a successful trial, Queensland Rail is rolling out free Wi-Fi to all new city network trains. The service will be available on 64 of our newer trains by the end of 2012."

From http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/RailServices/City/Pages/wifi.aspx

[Fares_Fair]

Looks like it will only be the 160 and 260 series trains (as suspected):

"Following a successful trial, Queensland Rail is rolling out free Wi-Fi to all new city network trains. The service will be available on 64 of our newer trains by the end of 2012."

From http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/RailServices/City/Pages/wifi.aspx

Do you know if the type of trains proposed to be used for the Wi-Fi have toilets on board?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

160s  the IMUs ...

[HappyTrainGuy]

It was only intended for the IMU160 and SMU260. Seeing them on the rest of the fleet was doubtful.