Free Amtrak Wi-Fi Added to Midwest Trains

We know you love to sit back, relax and enjoy the journey when you ride our trains. So beginning today, we’re offering free Wi-Fi service on eight Midwest corridor trains, with the help of Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan and Illinois Departments of Transportation.

You can check if your favorite train or nearest station has WiFi here.

“We continually look for ways to improve the customer experience on board our trains,” says Matt Hardison, Amtrak’s Chief Marketing and Sales Officer, who adds that the company’s cellular based Wi-Fi now supports about 85 percent of passengers across the national network.

Wisconsin’s Secretary of Transportation Mark Gottlieb officially launched the service today during a special ceremony in Milwaukee. “This Wi-Fi addition is going to be especially appealing for our many business travelers, who can now make even better use of their time on the tracks,” he says.

In neighboring Illinois, the focus is on speed. “Amtrak trains in Illinois are faster thanks to our joint commitment to high speed rail,” says Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. “Now Wi-Fi access on those same trains will make each trip more productive and enjoyable.”

Officials in Michigan and Missouri are also excited about the service’s debut. Tim Hoeffner, rail director at the Michigan Department of Transportation, calls the technology an “important additional amenity” for Michigan travelers. And Michelle Teel, multimodal operations director at the Missouri Department of Transportation, says, “Adding Wi-Fi service makes an already attractive service even more customer-friendly.”

If you’re new to the onboard Wi-Fi service, check out these tips for getting the most out of the technology. Tips include: Sign on from one device; download large files like movies before you board the train; and avoid streaming sites such as Pandora.com and YouTube.com, since the service does not support those experiences.

To learn how Wi-Fi capabilities were added to your train, check out a behind the scenes look at Amtrak Wi-Fi installation at our mechanical facilities. Our employees take the job to new heights (literally!).