VIA Rail inks Wi-Fi deployment deal with Parsons
VIA Rail has signed Parsons Corp. to a five-year deal that will see the engineering and program management firm deploy Wi-Fi in all VIA 1 and Comfort class cars, as well as 22 stations and all seven Panorama lounges in the Windsor-Quebec City corridor. The service is primarily targeted at business people and students, but opens the door for the implementation of other applications. "As the first commercial fleet deployment of on-train Wi-Fi in North America, this value-added service aimed at primarily business travelers and students will provide access to email and the Internet, and create opportunities for private applications like e-ticketing and could even provide operational information through electronic logbooks and engine telemetry," VIA Rail VP of marketing Steve Del Bosco said in a news release. Five trains and four lounges are already outfitted with Wi-Fi access.