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Wi-Fi to your heart's content at downtown train stations

Metra is gradually fulfilling riders' wish lists with free Wi-Fi hot spots at downtown stations, which started Thursday.

The commuter railroad plans to provide limited free Wi-Fi access in one train car on each of its 11 lines by January as a six-month pilot project.

Metra also currently offers charging outlets at all five downtown stations.

Wi-Fi and charging outlets are at the ticketing area between the north and south concourses at Union Station. At Ogilvie Transportation Center, Wi-Fi is upstairs near the platform waiting area and on the ground floor along with charging stations.

Free Wi-Fi at stations and chargers costs $12,000 to install and $1,050 a month in service fees.

Metra has spent years researching Wi-Fi and originally hoped to find a provider to offer the service for free, but had no takers.

With about 1,000 train cars, putting Wi-Fi on 11 barely scratches the surface, but the agency has to start somewhere, officials said.

The pilot program will cost about $35,000. If it goes well, the agency will seek outside funding or sponsors to add more cars with Wi-Fi, Executive Director Don Orseno has said.

For now, "we're testing to see if this strategy is workable, if is it sufficient and financially feasible," spokesman Michael Gillis said.

Putting Wi-Fi in individual cars is more feasible and less expensive than a systemwide approach. The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District is trying a similar program on the South Shore Line.

Riders should realize dead zones will likely pop up, and heavy use of Wi-Fi, such as streaming video, could impair service, planners said.

Riders will be notified how to find cars with hot spots and will be asked to give feedback on their experiences.

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