Wi-Fi in Amtrak: what to do if the Internet disappears on the train

Bad WiFi on Amtrak can ruin your trip. How to improve the quality of the Internet on the train and not fall into the trap, reports Washington Post.

Photo: IStock

Earlier this summer, Kim Key boarded an Amtrak train in Atlanta and began the experiment. During a 16-hour trip to New York, a PCMag security analyst tried to use the carriage as a home office. Her biggest problem wasn't traffic or bad coffee—it was poor Wi-Fi.

“Sometimes Amtrak WiFi just doesn't work,” she said. “But I brought a little help with me.”

Amtrak's free Wi-Fi works well...as long as it doesn't fail. Common problems include video buffering, teleconferencing calls hanging, unsuccessful web searches, and disconnections. However, understanding its limitations and using backup technology can greatly improve your browsing experience.

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“If you plan to work for Amtrak, you need to bring a device connected to the cellular network because it is likely to be more reliable than Wi-Fi,” Key said.

Poor Amtrak internet service

Amtrak introduced free Wi-Fi in 2010 (most airlines still make you pay for internet) when streaming and online video were in their infancy and digital nomads were mythical creatures.

The Acela was the first train to offer such amenities. Passengers can now use Wi-Fi on more than 30 short and long distance trains across the country, according to Amtrak. The company plans to move to 5G next year.

As implementation progresses, the towers will be upgraded, and then the modems on the trains will be upgraded, said Russ Clark, a senior research scientist at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. “So overall it should be better.” The main reason is that 5G simply has more capabilities.”

Until then, passengers will have to learn how to navigate the relatively slow and complex 4G, traveling at speeds up to 240 km per hour.

"Expect crashes, no matter what the origin and destination stations are," said Mike Wurtele, managing editor at AppleInsider.com.

How Wi-Fi works on a high-speed train

Amtrak uses local cell towers along the route, unlike aircraft, many of which rely on a hybrid system of ground towers and satellites and charge for the service. As the train races forward, its routers must keep up by jumping from tower to tower. The gap between the towers can lead to service interruption. In areas with underdeveloped infrastructure, for example, in rural areas, the Internet will be absent.

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“Even if you are connected to Wi-Fi in your car, there may not be a connection between the car and the wireless infrastructure because there are no towers in the region you are passing through,” said Harpreet S. Dillon, a wireless communications expert and professor Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech.

A well-branched series of towers does not guarantee an uninterrupted connection. Intensive use can slow down service and also interfere with wireless communications.

“If a railroad car is passing through a very crowded area, it shares a wireless tower with other users,” Dillon said. “So there is a lot of pressure on this tower from people on the railroad and from the outside world. This can cause the internet to slow down or even cause your connection to drop out.”

Natural and man-made features such as mountains, tunnels, and skyscrapers can also interfere with the connection. For example, Kimberly Woods, a spokeswoman for Amtrak, said passengers can expect unstable connections when entering Manhattan from northern New Jersey due to the tunnels.

“There will be a long period when the ability to access Wi-Fi will be limited,” she said.

Do not broadcast or conduct video conferences

Amtrak is outspoken about the limitations of its service. “At this time, our Wi-Fi does not support high-bandwidth activities such as music streaming, video streaming, or large file downloads,” the post read online. For a more convenient work, the company recommends downloading large files, such as work presentations or entertainment, to the device before the trip.

“In general, web browsing is accessible,” Woods said. “But some customers know that content needs to be downloaded before traveling.”

She also recommends logging in with only one device and familiarizing yourself with the train's Wi-Fi capabilities. On some trains, only certain carriages have Wi-Fi access.

Key had no problem using Wi-Fi for simpler tasks like browsing, sending email, messaging on Slack and Discord, and listening to audio. The system struggled with more resource intensive media such as YouTube, Netflix and Zoom. During the trip, she listened to podcasts and watched YouTube videos on her T-Mobile-connected device.

“You may find it easier to make a Zoom call from your phone if your cell phone tower is close enough,” she said. — But here you need to pay attention to the tariff - do you have an unlimited tariff plan? Make sure to do this to avoid paying huge internet bills.”

If the Wi-Fi connection is unstable or drops out, try activating a hotspot on your phone. However, if there is no tower nearby, your hotspot won't work either, unless your phone uses another wireless carrier and its tower is within range. But keep in mind that a large number of passengers using their phones at the same time can lead to connection interruptions.

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“It’s like Waze telling us there’s a traffic jam ahead and everyone is taking the wrong road,” Clark said. “Then we create a new traffic jam at the exit.”

If Wi-Fi isn't working, Woods recommends asking staff for help. While staff cannot build a tower where there is none, they can provide information about upcoming sites or stations with reliable communications.

Remember to protect your privacy

Key arrived at the Atlanta train station ready to go. One of her lifesavers was a power bank with multiple USB ports, as well as adapters for various devices.

To expand her coverage, she brought a cell phone with T-Mobile service and a Verizon hotspot. “Essentially, I made it so that at any given time I had three options to connect,” she said. “That’s how I managed to stay in touch throughout my journey.”

Because Amtrak's Wi-Fi network is public and unsecured, Key stresses the importance of protecting your privacy and sensitive material. She recommends using a VPN and making sure your antivirus software is active. "Always use your password manager," she added.

"Make sure you're not entering your passwords willy-nilly and that they're not the same passwords you use everywhere else on the internet," she said. “Otherwise this could turn into a disaster for you and your family.”

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