Wireless Technology on Trains

Read about Wi-Fi and CCIT

Download documents related to a Request for Information (RFI) for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA)

Download Images from Capitol Corridor

Download Wi-Fi Expert Panel Documents

About Wi-Fi and CCIT
Wireless Fidelity, or Wi-Fi, uses radio signals to provide Internet access to portable devices inside a local hotspot. Wi-Fi hotspots are being added to areas convenient to potential users, such as passenger trains. Beyond creating a more productive and pleasurable traveling environment, Wi-Fi on trains can improve train safety, security, and efficiency.

CCIT provides operational support for ongoing research and field tests of Wi-Fi on inter-city railways. CCIT is also developing a decision framework for selecting wireless Internet access vendors on behalf of customers riding the three California state-sponsored Intercity Rail services.

For an ITS technology to be adopted, it must work consistently and be cost-effective. Wi-Fi has already been implemented in many airports and on some railways. CCIT looked at existing Wi-Fi deployments, both nationally and internationally, researching technology options and business models to create and evaluate several potential business plans.

Wi-Fi has potentially broad applications for improving train operations and safety. CCIT is researching and analyzing these applications. This work complements a grant from the Department of Homeland Security to improve train security.

As shown in the adjacent diagram, laptops and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) work by accessing radio, cell phone towers or satellites.

Wi-Fi on trains will attract new rail riders and reduce congestion and pollution in the region, enhance regional rail system security and increase productivity and efficiency.

This project is coordinated with a related project in France as part of the CCIT CalFrance Collaboration, which will allow information and staff exchanges. The Central Japan Railway Company is also supporting an exchange of information and scholars.

Request for Information (RFI) for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA)
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and its management and operating office for the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) are inviting national and international wireless carriers, equipment vendors, system integrators, enterprise solution providers and other members of the telecommunications community to assist these agencies in evaluating solutions for a wireless broadband network that operates in a transit environment.  CCJPA is eliciting proposals for technical trials, sponsored and funded by the proposers, to be conducted from July to December, 2006.

Capitol Corridor RFI Data:

• Business Plan (PDF) The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority's (CCJPA) pending draft annual business plan submitted to the State of California for operations – General background document
• Rider Track Database--Access Database File MS Access file of CCJPA ridership information from April 1999 to January 2006.
• Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) Station Distance Bandwidth Table-Excel File Excel file with station relative distances from each other (distances per track miles – not as the crow flies)
• Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) Cost-Benefit-Excel File Compiled research into rough business revenue generation estimates based on survey data and assumed cost for various installation models. Assumptions on customer connection fees, usage, actual network usage, and other factors. Compared French TGV and Japan’s Shinkassen services as a basis for deployment of the described networks and assumptions
• Capitol Corridor Fact Sheet (PDF) General current information about Capitol Corridor ridership and performance
• WiFi Survey Results-Excel File Extensive survey results and ridership analysis (using RiderTrack information from prior years/months) to establish unique users. The most useful demographic file here
• Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) Session12APTA A powerpoint presentation regarding the process of the CCJPA to date. Includes a slide near the end that utilizes the chart in the CCJPA Station Bandwidth  to outline the station distance to bandwidth to frequency spectrum challenge in a WiMax (like) deployment
• Business Model Document Outlines the business model findings and remaining research as developed via the California Center for Innovative Transportation (CCIT). Documentation previously shared with attendees of December 8, 2005 CCIT working panel
• Reference Architecture Detailed analysis of various technology parameters to achieve. Performance standards in various network capabilities are the most relevant in this document
• Technical Recommendations Distillation of the Reference Architecture findings
• Capitol Corridor Fact Sheet An important to know BASICS about the Capitol Corridor service with respect to rights, ownership, and relationships to the service.
• Survey Results Excel file of wireless internet survey conducted on the train
• Survey Form Word document of the survey questions asked
• Agenda for the Pre-Bid Conference
• CCPJA Request for Information Wireless Effort Technical Trial Proposers' Pre-submittal Meeting-Powerpoint Presentation (as a PDF) Oakland, April 12, 2006
  CCJPA Request for InformationWireless Network Technical TrialProposers’ Pre-Submittal Meeting
  Jim Allison|CCJPA Kingston Cole|Kingston Cole Associates
  Monica Paolini|Senza Fili Consulting
  
• List of attendees to April 12, 2006 RFI Pre-Submission Meeting

Images from Capitol Corridor:

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Image10 -Testbed Corridor 2
Image 11-Testbed Corridor 2
Image 12-Testbed Corridor 3
Image 14-Testbed Corridor 3

WiFi Expert Panel December 8, 2005
Breakout Session One: Business and Infrastructure Protection:
Expert Panels Suggested Tentative Questions and Points for Discussion
Business Discussion Handout
Business Discussion Notes

Breakout Session Two: Wireless Technology:
WiFi Technical Questions
Technical Topics for Discussion
WiFi Technical Recommendations
Technical Notes
Homeland Security Topics for Discussion