Some people are never happy. free WiFi is a big selling point. I see it every weekend at least 40% of travelers have some sort of device on the table. on Sunday I seen 4 German people with 4 laptops all impressed with the WiFi. Free WiFi and people still moaning.

Heh, the cranks were quick out of the blocks, quel surprise

The Wifi on the Waterford to Dublin trainis barely usable. So slow and keeps dropping. They might as well not have it.

I get the Maynooth train daily and switch OFF the WiFi as it is complete rubbish. Those that are commenting here saying it “works for them” please let me know what they’re doing different from me? I log in with my previously registered e-mail and am then apparently “connected”. Then the waiting begins……….. till I disconnect the WiFi, use my 3G network and except for a few “3G free” spots, I’m flying.

Train from City Center to Leixlip every day, It says ‘Irish Rail Wifi’ try available, Try and connect, connection failed

Colleagues and I have tried different phones, tabs and computers. none of them ever connect.

It is a complete and total sham IMO

Typical puff piece on Irish Rail. The WiFi on the intercity service is terrible. It’s weaker than your regular 3G service but blocks access to YouTube, RTE player etc. The signal drops in the same black spots as the phone signal, and some days it doesn’t work at all.

I’d also debate whether such a service, regardless of quality, could be described as free when train ticket prices have gone up by 25% in the last 5 years.

Unfortunately the service is crap on Northbound train to Drogheda. It loses connectivity just like if using 3g on phone. Overall not fast either.

It only takes a bloody half an hour before it kicks in though.

The wifi barely works on the intercity services, 3G is much faster. waste of money by CIE again!

One of the few occasions when the much loved IT term “Rolling Out” is actually appropriate, along with maybe large multi-use photocopier and print machines on wheels.

good idea,poorly executed,typical halfarsed half done Irish way

24th slowest train service in Europe and I bet the guys in Irish rail travelled the world at the taxpayers expense to check out the Wifi. Real Irish.

It’s a good service to provide, but there will be a difference between having it on the whole network and it actually being usable…

Also it is relatively inexpensive and all the fare hikes, fines and other ways the service is pushing away passengers with it’s expense will have nothing to do with this perk.

A few boxes giving out radio signals on a big train is no additional energy that they don’t already have in abundance, nor does it cost much to run such things. Infact it probably justifies the jobs of their IT and Comms staff more in this current climate, and shouldn’t really be knocked if we get a free service out of it.

The Dart is the only service where this will probably be a bit of a crime issue as the oldest carraiges and newer ones fitted in similar arraingements do not have many tray tables or tables for passengers. Thus a lot of Awkward Gizmo propping up and fumbling for gadgets will occur. Some of which may be advantagous to criminals, but generally the System is Secure in its busiest sections so a criminal is less likely to be very succesful at taking anything.

STIS or whatever their called, the large blokes in flak jackets, will be around from time to time around Dublin anyway, so you’re as safe as being on the street anyway.

Great, I can share a single mobile Internet connection with hundreds of others as I stand, crammed into the train.

it is a good move and positive one
while not perfect it’s a big step in the right dirrection.
Ireland needs to invest and promote information technology. Providing free WiFi has lots of benefits for such a low cost.
Just need our airports do the same.

Free. Really it’s Free? No price hikes to cover this Free service. Yeah right, nothing for nothing in this country.

Waste of money. Most people already have 3G modems, or 3G on their smartphones / netbooks. They should have spent the money investing in the rail infrastructure, and running more services, which are badly needed in some towns.

Jesus I’d be afraid to take off my coat on public transport never mind take out my phone or laptop on a train in fear it be robbed

Broadband that’s faster than a train driver’s egg sandwich :-P.
My coat please .

Free, my Arse!

The fact that this is an actual ‘story’ shows how far behind the global times we really are as a nation!