Updated February 20, 2007
Research, trials, and drafting of a request for proposal document to procure wireless internet are ongoing for Capitol Corridor.
CCJPA staff and the consulting team assisting CCJPA are nearing the final stages of developing a request for proposal document (RFP) to be released for competitive vendor response. We anticipate the RFP will be ready in early July 2007. In the meantime, we are refining and testing business models and finalizing some of our technology tests at this time. Also, we are looking elsewhere around the world to refine our proposal, our evaluation process, and eventual contract terms with the winning vendor. Unlike some technology deployments, there is no cookie cutter solution that will be exactly like other passenger rail operators in the United States or around the world. Therefore, we are being careful to craft our needs and solution scope in terms that best match the characteristics of the Capitol Corridor service.
Our system will be developed for our customers (you!) and for our own uses, with the goal of a more efficient, safer, and more secure operation than ever before. The primary services we want the broadband network to support are:
The prior, limited public trial of the Opti-Fi and On-Air Entertainment services is being eliminated as train equipment comes in for maintenance. From February 2007 until the selected vendor deploys their solution, there will be no internet access on our trains except via any personal devices available to the general public. Whether via radio base-stations using linked mesh Wi-Fi, pre-WiMax, or WiMax, 3G, or satellite, or a mixture of these technology solutions, or something none of use have heard about yet, we expect that a vendor may be ready to launch a service in mid-2008.
Prior research documentation and wireless internet survey statistics are available and hosted by the California Center for Innovative Transportation (www.calccit.org), one of our vital research partners in this effort. http://www.calccit.org/projects/train2.html#Capitol
Press Release, 3/31/06 - Request for Information (RFI) - Mobile Wireless Network