The Caltrain Board of Directors voted last week to reject two bids for Wi-Fi service on commuter trains -- possibly killing the plan.
"Neither bid met the desired results that Caltrain was looking for," spokesman Jonah Weinberg said Friday.
One bid demanded too much infrastructure and another didn't meet the service standards desired by Caltrain, Weinberg said.
Caltrain has invested more than $1 million to research and test Wi-Fi during a short period last year.
The closed test took place aboard one train and lasted two or three months and was considered a success in its limited 8-mile stretch of track.
Service has apparently not been hurt by the lack of Internet access.
"We have some trains that are pretty much at capacity," Weinberg said.
The Thursday vote is not the end of the concept. Weinberg said Caltrain still hopes to eventually roll it out as part of a more comprehensive communication package. But there are no near-term plans to seek new bids, he said.
A successful $300,000 test of Wi-Fi technology last year buoyed Caltrain hopes for Wi-Fi system, and the board approved $1 million last fall to move forward as part of a total project cost of between $3 million to $4 million.
