Amtrak said it is looking to build a more effective Wi-Fi network for its Northeast Corridor (NEC) to provide better Internet connection for passengers.
The high-speed rail operator said it wants to build "a true broadband experience" that could let riders watch Netflix, YouTube and stream music over Spotify without any problems, according to The Verge.
Amtrak's current restrictions against large downloads and streaming services keeps riders from using these services.
The company said its goal is to increase available bandwidth per train from 10 Mbps to at least 25 Mbps, PC Magazine reported. It is currently looking for bids with systems and infrastructure that can scale to faster speeds.
"We know that our customers want a consistently reliable and fast on-board Wi-Fi experience - something we cannot guarantee today on our busiest trains when hundreds of customers want to go online at the same time - and we want to make that possible," said Matt Hardison, chief marketing and sales officer at Amtrak.
If Amtrak's proof-of-concept project is successful, it could lead to Wi-Fi being provided across the whole NEC, which stretches 457 miles long, according to The Verge.
The corridor runs from Boston to Washington D.C. It makes stops in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and other major cities.
Amtrak officials said the company will use results of the Wi-Fi project to figure out if it is technically and financially feasible to build the Wi-Fi network, Progressive Rail Roading reported.
The railway operator said a wireless trackside network would let them drop their restrictions on large downloads and streaming media.
The NEC is also the most heavily used commuter rail passage in the U.S. Amtrak plans to fill coverage gaps in the corridor with the project.
The company said that, regardless of whether it can provide passengers with high-capacity, broadband-speed Internet, it will take steps to improve Internet access along the NEC.
