California: Icomera Will Provide High-End Connectivity to Passengers on the Pacific Surfliner

Icomera and the Pacific Surfliner

Equans, through its subsidiary Icomera, will drive the expansion of connectivity services for the LOSSAN rail company in California, offering Pacific Surfliner passengers an unprecedented Wi-Fi experience.

The Pacific Surfliner travels along a 565-kilometer coastal rail route through various counties on the U.S. West Coast, serving 27 stations. Funded by the state, it is the busiest intercity passenger rail line in the United States, with 26 daily trains and an annual ridership of nearly 3 million people prior to the pandemic. The Pacific Surfliner is funded by the State of California through its Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and is operated by the rail company LOSSAN.

A significantly better user experience

LOSSAN’s investment reflects one of the key objectives of its action plan: to optimize passenger comfort and the user experience through "improved Wi-Fi, customer communications, traffic status information […] as well as station upgrades." To achieve this, LOSSAN turned to Icomera, through Amtrak, to improve the speed and reliability of the onboard connection.

Thanks to the X-Series mobile gateway from the Equans subsidiary, Pacific Surfliner passengers will enjoy a significantly better user experience. In fact, based on Icomera’s track record in similar scenarios, its implementation will enable 35 to 52% more devices to connect to the network on board trains and generate 34 to 48% more data per trip.

“ One of the simplest ways to improve the onboard experience for travelers is to provide them with an environment where they can continue to work, be entertained, or stay informed at their convenience. Having an Internet connection is no longer considered a luxury by passengers, but rather a necessary service that operators must provide to remain competitive. ”

Magnus Friberg Chief Executive Officer of Icomera