Leading vehicle connectivity solutions provider Icomera and Ireland’s number one provider of public transport WiFi services, Fleetconnect, have installed their 100th Irish Rail train with Icomera’s award-winning passenger WiFi system. Having equipped Irish Rail’s mainline intercity Mk4 and ICR fleets in just six months Icomera and Fleetconnect are now on course to complete WiFi install on all of its commuter trains before the year end.
Peter Smyth, Chief Mechanical Engineer at Irish Rail said: “With free WiFi launched on the majority of our intercity routes we are delighted to be extending the service to our commuter services as well. We set our suppliers some challenging timelines on this project and I’m pleased to say that they’ve stepped up to the mark.”
Fleetconnect and Icomera won the 500 rail vehicle contract with Irish Rail in late 2011 following a competitive tender process. The framework project includes a wide range of rolling stock from brand new intercity trains to two-car commuter DMU trains.
Fleetconnect CEO, Patrick Cotter said: “This has been a complex project, but thanks to great teamwork between Icomera, Fleetconnect and Irish Rail we’re delighted to have achieved this project milestone. We will now be working hard to extend WiFi services to the rest of the fleet in line with, or even ahead of, the timetable set by Irish Rail.”
The award-winning Icomera X6 mobile application router that underpins Irish Rail’s free WiFi service uses multiple 3G+ mobile broadband networks to deliver a faster, higher availability connection than can ever be achieved using a single sim connection. The Icomera X6 also includes a powerful onboard server and hosting environment for content storage and connected applications.
Peter Kingsland, Sales Director at Icomera said: “Passenger WiFi is application number one but we are already looking at ways to exploit the same fleet-wide data communications network for other real-time systems, which will improve the journey experience for all Irish Rail customers even if they don’t use the free internet service.”
About Icomera
Icomera launched the world’s first high-speed Internet solution for trains in September 2002 and is today the world’s leading provider of open Internet connectivity and application platforms for passenger transport and public safety. Our award-winning products are deployed on rail, road and sea, serving more than 30 million Wi-Fi users in over 24 countries and providing high-speed access for fleet tracking and mission-critical on-board systems.
Transport solutions of the future will require more than connectivity – passengers need to be entertained, the vehicles need to be monitored and the staff need to be kept informed. Together with our application partners Icomera is already meeting these and other needs through the deployment of complete transportation communication solutions.
For more information visit www.icomera.com or come a see us in person at Innotrans 2012 – Hall 7.1, Stand 112.
About Fleetconnect
Fleetconnect is the leading Irish provider of award-winning wireless communications products and services, with a specific focus on passenger transport, public safety, and indoor and outdoor network applications. The company has already established itself as the leading provider of industrial-grade in-vehicle systems for fast broadband access, delivering passengers Wi-Fi (free Internet access) and GPS vehicle tracking – as well as connectivity to enable live CCTV and e-ticketing. Customers include Bus Eireann, Aircoach and Matthews Coaches.
