WiFi trial comes to San Francisco's BART trains

Merely hours after hearing that a contactless payment trial was going live on San Francisco's BART, along comes word that a test of a slightly different nature was also underway on the very same public transportation system. Reportedly, a recent Wi-Fi Rail installation on a select stretch of track proved that WiFi could be delivered to passengers at around 15Mbps -- up and down -- and if things go smoothly, the firm hopes to get its technology onto all sorts of rail systems across the globe. Unfortunately, there doesn't look to be any firm plans for the trial to stick on BART, but who knows, keep on refreshing that nearby network list on the morning commute and you might just get lucky.

[mike @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:31PM]

I noticed this yesterday morning at the Dublin/Pleasanton Bart station. I opened up my laptop and it told me a open wireless network was available call WiFi Rail or something to that effect. I ignored it and used my 3G card instead because I am always wary of open networks. If it's legit, it will make my long commute to the office that much more tolerable.

[boynamedsue @ Feb 2nd 2008 2:57PM]

now my ipod touch's wifi feature will get some regular use.

[michael @ Feb 2nd 2008 5:25PM]

I agree. iPod Touch's most touted feature is the so-called easy to use Safari browser, but it can be hard to find free (good) WiFi sometimes.

And the whole Starbucks deal, is nothing more than to get people to go there to also get some more expensive coffee. Great deal. Though Starbucks coffee is good.

[Justin B @ Feb 2nd 2008 4:11PM]

This is great news. I take the train (Amtrak) home from school and wifi would be much appreciated on that ride.

[Oaktown Dan @ Feb 2nd 2008 4:47PM]

Seems like I just posted this same comment a couple of days ago ...

Yo idjits! There is no such thing as San Francisco's BART. The BA stands for Bay Area, it covers many counties, there are as many stops in Oakland as SF, and it goes to several other decent size cities. Oh, and by the way, BART is headquartered in Oakland.

[Jason @ Feb 21st 2008 3:02PM]

That is true. BART goes around the SF "Bay Area", not just San Francisco. However, the press tend to use "San Francisco" instead of addressing the entire Bay Area due to popularity of the city on national and international level. If they call it Oakland's BART, people outside the Bay Area will have no idea where it is.

[Jim Bailey @ Feb 21st 2008 9:21PM]

Yes, BART stand for Bay Area Rapped Transit:

However if you try to commute to form almost any end-point on the BART system, to any other end-point (OTHER then SF) and you have to change trains two or three times and experience a minimum of 20-30 minutes of transfer delay. effectively BART is the SF commuter rail.

Oakland is one of the few exceptions where all the lines cross and its convenient in any direction, and even the Dublin-Pleasanton line only hits West Oakland. If you ever use the train systems in other first world countries you would find BART a joke (UK, Singapore, Japan, etc.)

[Ed @ Feb 2nd 2008 4:50PM]

I'm pretty sure I saw the Wifi Rail SSID in Monty last week. The default page lets you get BART information (maps, schedules, etc.) or sign in, but the registration link just redirected back to the front page at that point.

[fender4645 @ Feb 2nd 2008 6:59PM]

WifiRail has been showing up and usable for months now. I've only noticed in the Civic Center/Montgomery/Embarcadero stations (useful for when you just miss your train and have to wait around for 15 minutes)

[Metacore @ Feb 2nd 2008 7:05PM]

Well, I would just like to point out, it's not "San Francisco's BART" system, it's the Bay Area's. BART stands for Bay Area Rapid Transit. San Francisco does have it's own in-city rapid transit system called the Muni(myu-nee. Like municipal). So it's just the BART, or the Muni too?

[Wolfticket @ Feb 2nd 2008 7:52PM]

15Mbps up eh?
That's a hellovalotta up.

[JB @ Feb 3rd 2008 3:59AM]

Blah blah, whine whine. "It's not San Francisco BART"

Like it or not, everything in the Bay Area will always be associated with or assigned to San Francisco. It wasn't a slight on the (ick) East Bay. Though BART is one think Oakland can have. It isn't the slightest bit useful to anyone who actually lives in San Francisco (but then, it wasn't ever supposed to be).

[Oaktown Dan @ Feb 3rd 2008 1:58PM]

@JB - "Like it or not, everything in the Bay Area will always be associated with or assigned to San Francisco"

That sounds good. Let's have

San Francisco's Google, Yahoo, and Ask
San Francisco's Wine Country
San Francisco's Stanford University
San Francisco's Berkeley (both city and university)
San Francisco's Oakland Raiders (don't want them to be without a football team when the 49'ers move)
San Francisco's Golden State Warriors (used to be in SF anyway)
San Francisco's Zoo that doesn't have tigers that escape from their pens
San Francisco's Chez Panisse & French Laundry Restaurants

[bentonebay @ Feb 3rd 2008 5:11PM]

Yea I've seen it since december riding from embarcadero to balboa. -Bent Cardan

[SteveS @ Feb 3rd 2008 6:25PM]

"Reportedly, a recent Wi-Fi Rail installation on a select stretch of track..."

Atleast in NYC they could use the third rail for BPL (Broadband over power lines).

[iofthestorm @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:40PM]

Hey cool, I live in Pleasanton.

[iofthestorm @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:41PM]

Meant to be a reply to the first post, but the reply system is broken. wtf?

[Another Dan @ Feb 4th 2008 12:31AM]

Yeah but come on, it's Oakland.

I mean... Oakland.

(Also the official for-serious Legal Purposes name is "San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit", so "San Francisco BART" really is more correct.)

[Rafael @ Mar 4th 2008 6:14PM]

Is it being provided through the Sonic.net network?