Effective Monday, passengers traveling on the Capitol Corridor, the San Joaquin and the Pacific Surfliner trains can connect to the Internet through AmtrakConnect for Web surfing and using email, officials announced.
Passengers also can access corporate networks through most Virtual Private Networks (VPN), making train trips a good time to catch up on work.
"It made the ride easier because you can entertain yourself on the 'Net," said Booker Dabis, who took the train from Richmond to Sacramento with his son Monday afternoon. "It's like you're at home."
Dabis said while the connection was slower than he is used to, it worked without interruption.
Charian DeAmeral of Sacramento said she can use her tablet computer without having to bum a connection off other passengers with a mobile hotspot.
DeAmeral said it had been disappointing to have wireless service come and go during her frequent trips to the Bay Area.
Melissa Campbell of New York had settled in for the ride from Sacramento to the Bay Area and was surprised to learn of the free Wi-Fi.
The Wi-Fi was funded by state passenger rail agencies reinvesting cost savings from other completed rail projects.
Capitol Corridor spokeswoman Luna Salaver says Wi-Fi has been the top request from passengers who ride the 32 weekday trains to work and school.
Salaver told the San Francisco Chronicle ( http://bit.ly/sKaFkt) that the $3.75 million for the system is coming from a signal project that was completed under budget.
Ambassadors will be available on the trains this week to help passengers navigate the new Wi-Fi network. It will offer access to e-mail, social media and Web surfing, but won't be able to handle streaming movies or music.
Amtrak already offers Wi-Fi on routes on the East Coast and Pacific Northwest.
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