Caltrain awards two contracts to Nomad Digital, Inc. for broadband communications services

Caltrain has awarded two contracts to Nomad Digital, Inc. of Hayward, Calif. for broadband communications services. Nomad will be installing, operating and maintaining Caltrain’s broadband services, both to provide valuable wireless connectivity between the agency’s new electric train fleet and central control, as well as for public-facing Wi-Fi.

The broadband solution will allow Caltrain to launch long-awaited public Wi-Fi on board its new electric fleet that will run along its San Francisco-San Jose rail corridor.

The two contracts cover system implementation and deployment for $20.9 million and operations and maintenance support for $5.6 million over a four-year term. Initial funding of $14 million for the Broadband Communications Project was provided by the State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program.

“Silicon Valley’s train needs Wi-Fi,” said Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard. “Onboard Wi-Fi will allow our riders to get a head start on the workday or decompress on their way home, staying connected with the world outside. This is one more reason for commuters to choose Caltrain over sitting in highway gridlock.”

Nomad provides industry-leading high-speed internet connectivity, with passengers able to perform email, web surf, and stream video subject to an equity policy that provides equal bandwidth use by all.

The Request for Proposals for this project went out in October 2021. Four firms submitted proposals, with Nomad being the highest-ranked firm. Nomad, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alstom, has more than two decades of experience providing on-board internet connectivity and passenger experience services, having worked with Amtrak, Montreal REM, NS Dutch Railways, Austrian Federal Railways and Denver RTD.