I’ve always loved trains. Like Marge Simpson and potatoes, I just think they’re neat. That’s why I took an opportunity to save a day of PTO and work while traveling on an Amtrak train.
As we passed through the many whistlestop towns throughout the Deep South on the way up to PCMag's office in New York City, I appreciated the views from my bedroom window aboard the Southern Crescent train. A chessboard-turned-desk attached to the wall was sufficient for my working needs, and a tiny USB-connected fan kept the oppressive heat and humidity at bay.
I knew Amtrak’s free onboard Wi-Fi would be slow on my trip, but I hoped it would be sufficient for me to remain productive enough to complete my everyday tasks, which include browsing the internet for research, emailing, and sending small text-based files. I also wanted to see if the free Wi-Fi connection could support more robust network usage, such as audio streaming using a service like Spotify, video conferencing, and connecting to a VPN server.
Is Amtrak’s free Wi-Fi usable for your average office worker? Let’s find out.
(Credit: PCMag)How Wi-Fi Works on Amtrak
According to Amtrak, the trains have modems that connect to the cellular towers along their routes to provide basic free Wi-Fi services to all train passengers. The signal is most reliable when close to a tower. Amtrak cautions passengers against engaging in high-bandwidth online activity such as audio and video streaming when they connect to the network, stating that such activity slows the network speeds for everyone else on the train. Throughout my journey, the free Wi-Fi provided a slow but reliable connection.
(Credit: PCMag) Your browser does not support the video tag.Amtrak also advises passengers to contact the train conductor if there is an issue with the onboard Wi-Fi instead of sending them to a customer support line. The conductor reports the issue to an offsite monitoring service that can look into it on behalf of Amtrak. It doesn’t seem wise for anyone to ask the train conductor about the Wi-Fi while they’re presumably operating a massive vehicle full of passengers, but I appreciate that someone onsite can handle and address the situation if it arises.
(Credit: PCMag)Regarding security, while connected to Amtrak's free Wi-Fi, be aware that it's an open network and security is nonexistent. You're responsible for protecting your personal and work data and devices from malware and spyware, not Amtrak. You know what that means: Use a VPN, make sure your antivirus software is running, and keep using your password manager all around the web while you browse.
Putting Amtrak's Wi-Fi to the Test
During my trip, I kept in touch with colleagues and readers via my Mastodon account. A fair number of the replies to my posts centered around logistics and privacy concerns that come with working away from home or an office. With that in mind, I tried the four tasks most office workers need to perform on any given day: connecting to Wi-Fi, accessing online content, attending video meetings, and connecting to a VPN.
(Credit: PCMag)How to Connect to Amtrak Wi-Fi
To use Amtrak's free Wi-Fi, connect to the appropriate Wi-Fi network for your train and open your browser. You do not have to give up your email address or create a password to connect to the free Wi-Fi, and Amtrak did not request seating or ticketing information from me when I connected.
Amtrak Wi-Fi Content Filtering
Amtrak is pretty explicit about how it expects the free Wi-Fi network to be used. That means no large file downloads and no media streaming. Amtrak also mentions on its website that it filters "objectionable" content. I did not encounter any content-based filtering during my train-based working experience.
Can You Attend Video Conferences on Amtrak's Wi-Fi?
My attempt to use video conferencing apps using Amtrak’s Wi-Fi failed. This is unsurprising since Amtrak notes on its website that heavy video streaming will be restricted on the network. I was also unable to watch YouTube videos or use Spotify, but my T-Mobile-connected device easily handled those tasks.
Can You Use a VPN on Amtrak's Wi-Fi?
I could connect to a server using my company-provided VPN while I worked on the train. I was also able to connect to a different server using Proton VPN. On its website, Amtrak states that it allows VPN traffic on its network, so you shouldn't have problems connecting with your favorite VPN provider.
Amtrak Wi-Fi vs. Your Phone
I brought two iPhones with me to test connection speeds throughout my trip. One device was connected to Amtrak’s Wi-Fi network, while the other was connected to T-Mobile’s cellular network. I gathered data from Ookla’s Speedtest app at various intervals throughout the workday. (Note: Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, PCMag.com's parent company.)
T-Mobile is the clear winner here, but I want to stress that Amtrak’s Wi-Fi is still a viable way to stay connected to your workplace while you travel. I lost T-Mobile connectivity a few times while traveling through the Carolinas and Virginia, while the Amtrak Wi-Fi continued functioning.
For more, check out our in-depth analysis of Wi-Fi connectivity aboard Amtrak trains.
On Amtrak, Your Productivity Mileage May Vary
When I arrived at the train station in New York City, I was grateful to be at the end of my journey and happy that I was able to get a lot of work done on the way.
(Credit: PCMag)So yes, you can work on an Amtrak train using the provided Wi-Fi. Just make sure to bring a cellular device with a hefty data plan so you can use it as a hotspot when you need to do video conferencing or when you want to listen to your music and podcasts while working.
Want to know what’s in my train-friendly work bag? Check out my story on how I decided what to pack for my overnight working train trip.
