Editing Amtrak (section)

===Wi-Fi and electronic services===
Amtrak first offered free [[Wi-Fi]] service to passengers aboard the ''Downeaster'' in 2008, the ''Acela'' and the ''[[Northeast Regional]]'' trains on the NEC in 2010, and the ''[[Amtrak Cascades]]'' in 2011. In February 2014, Amtrak rolled out Wi-Fi on corridor trains out of Chicago. When all the Midwest cars offer the AmtrakConnect service, about 85% of all Amtrak passengers nationwide will have Wi-Fi access.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrak.com/journey-with-wi-fi-train-station|access-date=August 27, 2012|title=Journey with Wi-Fi|website=Amtrak|archive-date=August 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828224128/http://www.amtrak.com/journey-with-wi-fi-train-station|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release|title=AmtrakConnect® Wi-Fi Coming To Midwest Corridors |date=December 19, 2013 |publisher=Amtrak|url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/92/472/Amtrak-Midwest-Wi-Fi-ATK-13-154.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203144227/http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/92/472/Amtrak-Midwest-Wi-Fi-ATK-13-154.pdf|archive-date=February 3, 2014}}</ref> {{as of|2014}}, most Amtrak passengers have access to free Wi-Fi. The service has developed a reputation for being unreliable and slow due to its cellular network connection;<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/12/wireless-internet-amtrak| title=Wi-Fi should actually work| newspaper=The Economist| date=December 20, 2011| access-date=July 13, 2017| archive-date=July 2, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702111913/http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/12/wireless-internet-amtrak| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nixon |first1=Ron |title=Wi-Fi and Amtrak: Missed Connections |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/travel/wi-fi-and-amtrak-missed-connections.html |work=The New York Times |date=May 30, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2017 |archive-date=December 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214092806/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/travel/wi-fi-and-amtrak-missed-connections.html |url-status=live }}</ref> on some routes it is usually unusable, either freezing on the login page or, if it manages to log in, failing to provide any internet bandwidth.

Routes with Wi-Fi are typical on routes running east of the Mississippi River and the US Coastlines.  West–east routes such as Sunset Limited, Southwest Chief and Texas Eagle notably lacks Wi-Fi whether through Amtrak or using a private hotspot, as cell towers are not common on the rail paths through desert and mountain wilderness.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robbins |first1=Jill |title=I spent 8 hours on Amtrak's Texas Eagle for $47... |url=https://www.insider.com/what-its-like-taking-amtrak-through-texas-san-antonio-alpine-2022-7#there-was-no-wifi-on-board-and-i-didnt-have-cell-service-for-half-of-the-journey-7 |website=Business Insider |publisher=Insider |access-date=September 14, 2023 |ref=WiFiInsider}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Robbins |first1=Jill |title=9 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Booked An Amtrak Sleeper Car |url=https://www.travelawaits.com/2756688/amtrak-sleeper-car-things-to-know-before-you-book/ |website=Travel Awaits |date=May 14, 2022 |publisher=Quillt |access-date=September 14, 2023 |ref=WiFiQuillt |archive-date=November 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105203031/https://www.travelawaits.com/2756688/amtrak-sleeper-car-things-to-know-before-you-book/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Amtrak launched an [[Electronic ticket|e-ticketing]] system on the ''[[Downeaster (train)|Downeaster]]'' in November 2011<ref>{{cite news |last=Billings |first=Randy |date=November 11, 2011 |title=Amtrak Downeaster rolls out electronic tickets, improved Wi-Fi |newspaper=Sun Journal |url=http://www.sunjournal.com/news/business/2011/11/11/amtrak-downeaster-rolls-out-electronic-tickets-improved-wi-fi/1113947 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053856/http://www.sunjournal.com/news/business/2011/11/11/amtrak-downeaster-rolls-out-electronic-tickets-improved-wi-fi/1113947 |archive-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref> and rolled it out nationwide on July 30, 2012. Amtrak officials said the system gives "more accurate knowledge in realtime of who is on the train which greatly improves the safety and security of passengers; en route reporting of onboard equipment problems to mechanical crews which may result in faster resolution of the issue; and more efficient financial reporting".<ref>{{cite web |last=National Railroad Passenger Corporation |title=eTickets Now Accepted on Every Amtrak Train |url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/197/699/eTickets-Now-Accepted-on-Every-Amtrak-Trains-ATK-12-069.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804023234/http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/197/699/eTickets-Now-Accepted-on-Every-Amtrak-Trains-ATK-12-069.pdf |archive-date=August 4, 2012 |access-date=July 30, 2012 |work=Amtrak News Release (30 July 2012) |publisher=National Railroad Passenger Corporation}}</ref>