Thursday, August 29, 2013

Amtrak riders getting free Wi-Fi in 2014

WOODTV - Amtrak riders getting free Wi-Fi in 2014 | WOOD TV8:
"LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan passenger train riders will be getting Wi-Fi access next year.

The Michigan Department of Transportation says it's spending about $1 million to install by January on Amtrak trains in the state. Department spokesman Nick Schirripa tells MLive.com that improving Internet access should increase ridership and produce higher revenues that more than offset the cost.

Amtrak gets state and federal subsidies and has three routes in Michigan. The Blue Water runs from Port Huron to Chicago, the Pere Marquette from Grand Rapids to Chicago and the Wolverine from Pontiac to Chicago.

Michigan's funding for Amtrak is $25.2 million in the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, up from $8 million this fiscal year.

Amtrak had 793,000 passengers in Michigan last year, generating $27.8 million in revenue. "

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