by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:00 PM ET, Wed October 21, 2015
Amtrak announced Monday that all passengers on Auto Train would now have free access to the cellular-based Wi-Fi service equipped on the trains, called AmtrakConnect.
This latest technological initiative from Amtrak is part of an effort to enhance the passenger experience and the first phase of a larger project that will provide passengers with free Wi-Fi on all single-level, long-distance train routes in 2016.
In the coming months, the Auto Train routes and the other trains currently being equipped with AmtrakConnect will help give 90 percent of the company's passengers access to the on-board Wi-Fi.
For those unfamiliar, the Auto Train is a long-distance Amtrak train that allows customers to travel with their vehicles-cars, vans, SUVs and motorcycles-between the Washington, D.C. area and Florida.
Amtrak senior vice president Mark Murphy released a statement, saying, "This new amenity marks an important milestone in our ongoing commitment to improving the passenger experience. The availability of Wi-Fi provides the connectivity passengers expect while traveling and demonstrates yet another reason why Amtrak is a smarter way to travel."
To usher in a new era of traveling, Amtrak is offering a special $95 Saver Fare aboard the AmtrakConnect-enabled Auto Train. The Internet service will be available on the Cardinal, Crescent, Lake Shore Limited and Silver Service long-distance train routes.
The AmtrakConnect service takes advantage of 4G LTE technologies and multiple cellular carriers to create the best possible mobile experience. To ensure the quality of the Wi-Fi remains high, data-intensive activities like streaming video and music or downloading large files will be restricted.
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