Train operator c2c is the latest rail company to offer commuters a taste of the wireless world by embarking on a six month trial of free Wi-Fi web connectivity.
Four carriages, which will make their way around the c2c network to ensure that as many passengers as possible can try out the service, have been kitted out with the necessary technology by partners Nomad Digital and T-Mobile.
The company hasn't engaged in a great deal of publicity around the Wi-Fi project, which kicked off mid-month, but it has put notification stickers in the relevant carriages and posted an information page on its website.
"Wi-Fi is an increasingly popular technology that allows you to connect to the internet at broadband speeds from the office or at home (creating a "hotspot")," states the web page.
"Public Wi-Fi internet access (as being trialled by us) takes this a step further by turning the train carriage into a hotspot and works while the train is in motion. Once you have internet access you can check your e-mails, connect to your office, watch a music video or breaking news or update your blog."
The rail operator, whose trains run from Shoeburyness in Essex to London's Fenchurch Street, plans to review the success of the pilot towards the end of the year before making any decisions about a full commercial roll out.
