Mumbai: You can travel by train in India and still remain connectedwith some long-distance trains set to get Wi-Fi connectivity.

Premier trains like the Rajdhani Express and the ShatabdiExpress and even the Jan Shatabdi Express will be the first ones to be providedwith the facility, officials of the Mumbai-headquartered Western Railwaysaid. 

The state-run RailTel Corp of India Ltd has carried outWi-Fi connectivity tests on a few trains.

"The tests have proved that passengers will experienceseamless connectivity on running trains. Considering the revenue it will yield,the project is being given top priority," said Satya Prakash, divisionalrailway manager of Western Railway.

Apart from enabling passengers to stay connected on movingtrains, RailTel also plans to provide Wi-Fi connectivity at select railwaystations to allow commuters to work on laptops and palmtops.

"Important stations in Mumbai like Chhattrapti ShivajiTerminus, Churchgate, Mumbai Central and Dadar will be among the first in thecountry to become Wi-Fi enabled," said Prakash.

A RailTel source told sources, "RailTel will provide Wi-Ficonnectivity at 500 stations. In addition, call centres would be set up at 14stations by the year-end to provide quick information services about thearrival and departures of trains and the reservation status by simply dialling139."

"We will soon be short-listing the trains and stationswhere Internet service would be made available," he said.

RailTel will also be setting up local area network (LAN) toprovide Wi-Fi connectivity within stations. It is also looking at providingWi-Fi connectivity to tourists visiting small towns through the LAN.  

"A wireless LAN will be created in the coaches throughtransmitters placed inside them. Besides, a roof-mounted antenna would catchthe signal from towers which are being set up at railway stations," he said. 

RailTel also plans to set up 250 cyber cafes at railwaystations across India.It already operates nine fully air-conditioned cyber cafés offering Internetbrowsing, Internet telephony, video-conferencing and audio-video chatting.