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Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Freshwater, Nov 12, 2013.

  1. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I think we discussed this not too long ago, my personal feeling is that wifi at stations is a good idea and easy to implement, wifi on trains is expensive and would provide little additional benefit.
     
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  2. Alan Kebby

    Alan Kebby Well-Known Member

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    Probably wouldn’t be too difficult to do. A lot of buses have been retro fitted with it for example.

    The question though is what would be the point? People come to heritage railways for a heritage experience, not to stay glued to their screens.
     
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  3. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Telegrams?
     
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  4. jnc

    jnc Well-Known Member

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    I did say "pass over the question of 'would it make economic sense'"! :) (You may well be right about the cost/benefit ratio in practice.)

    I sense from your answer, and mention of it in stations, that you'd be OK with it in principle (which was the point I was trying to focus my query on)?

    Noel
     
  5. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Ah sorry, I missed that bit! Yes, the idea of being able to connect to wifi at a heritage railway doesn't offend me. Some SVR and WSR stations already provide free wifi and I have made use of it.
     
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  6. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    The new FR carriages feature a wifi information point.

    TBH, I think it is only a matter of time before wifi is added, just because for 'normal' passengers it will be considered to be 'normal' and be part of meeting their expectations. I am not sure the purists will be very happy. Of course, the flipside is that 5G etc may make it redundant as if you can get good connection on your phone without wifi then why bother to connect to a network?
     
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  7. gwalkeriow

    gwalkeriow Well-Known Member

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    Havenstreet Station has had public WiFi for three or four years.
     
  8. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Having seen what Elon Musk is up to at the moment, were it on my plate, I'd hold off.
     
  9. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I had no need to look anything up on the internet on my visit, the guide knew everything! ;)
     
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  10. Paul Grant

    Paul Grant Well-Known Member

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    Makes sense at the stations and cafe spots but on the train is a bit pointless in my mind. There is a world of difference between being stuck in a metal (or plastic) on the MDTR and travelling in a mostly wooden carriage plodding along the countryside.
     
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  11. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    It makes commercial sence for stations to have Wifi, but not so much on board the actual trains,
     
  12. Platform 3

    Platform 3 Member

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    Did you offer any unprompted comments on the quality of coaching stock?

    Sent from my SM-G770F using Tapatalk
     
  13. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    Different generations have different expectations.
    On a visit to the Cavell Van at Bodiam 2-3 years ago I heard a mother and children enter, followed by complaints from the kids that there were no touch screens to show what it was all about. They missed the large display boards giving the info they wanted! (And were unimpressed when mama pointed them out.)
    Pat
     
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  14. gwalkeriow

    gwalkeriow Well-Known Member

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    I deny everything! :)
     
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  15. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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    1) to allow real-time moaning on here about the loco liveries/type of coaches etc
    2)to allow a parent of a non-interested or bored child a handy source of distraction for said child to allow peaceful enjoyment for all
     
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  16. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Re:2) that's why more cattle wagons need to be lovingly restored, in my books. :Meh:
     
  17. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Pity the poor parents...


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  18. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I fail to see any problem, as they can enjoy their journey in the carriages in peace. :Pompus:
     
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  19. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Aha, I see the plan. Count me in!


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  20. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    I think that they would have to be "new builds" as there are very few original ones surviving. I do not think there are any survivors that are unrestored, but I'm happy to be proved wrong about this.

    Peter
     

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