Metra will test free Wi-Fi on 11 railcars, one on each line

You can now peruse the Sun-Times online using free Wi-Fi on 11 Metra train cars, the transit agency announced Monday.

Wi-Fi hotspots have been added to one car for each of the agency’s 11 lines as part of a new pilot program, according to Metra. The Wi-Fi cars are labeled with decals on the exterior and will usually be the end car of the train.

To access the free Wi-Fi, customers select “Metra Wi-Fi Onboard” from the list of options on their smartphones, tablets or laptops.

The hotspots are meant for checking email and browsing the Internet, not catching up on the hottest Netflix shows, Metra warned.

“Metra has posted information onboard to notify customers that streaming video will likely impair service and there may be dead zones along the route,” according to the statement.

The six-month program is expected to cost about $35,000.

“We continue to explore ways to provide free Wi-Fi on our trains and hope our customers will tell us if they find these new hotspots valuable,” Metra CEO Don Orseno said in the statement.

“If it’s financially feasible and our customers like the free service, our agency would seek funding or sponsorships to install Wi-Fi on more of railcars,” Orseno said.

Customers can visit http://www.metrarail.com/wifi survey to provide feedback on the quality of the service.