RFI No. 026-012?On-Train Wi-FI

VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)
RFI No. 026-012
ON-TRAIN Wi-Fi
Issue Date: May 13, 2026
Responses Due: June 4, 2026 by 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time
Contact: Kristin Nutter
Director of Purchasing and Contract Administration
Virginia Railway Express
1500 King Street, Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314
Telephone: (703) 838-5441
Email: knutter@vre.org

RFI No. 026-012 - On-Train Wi-Fi
1. VRE Background
The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is a commuter rail passenger service linking the
District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. The Northern Virginia Transportation
Commission (NVTC) and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission
(PRTC) are transportation districts established under Virginia law and jointly own this
service.
VRE provides commuter rail passenger service from the Northern Virginia suburbs to
Alexandria, Crystal City, and downtown Washington, DC, along the I-66 and I-95
corridors. VRE's trains operate over a network of two (2) lines (Fredericksburg and
Manassas) that cover eighty-nine (89) miles of track, from Union Station in Washington,
D.C., south to Fredericksburg, Virginia and west to Manassas, Virginia. Currently, VRE's
schedule includes thirty-two (32) trains which operate Monday through Friday, serving
nineteen (19) stations.
VRE operates a fleet of twenty (20) MP36PH-3C locomotives and one hundred (100)
Gallery IV passenger railcars, with twenty-one (21) additional railcars on order from
Alstom Transportation, Inc. VRE trains are typically composed of four (4) to eight (8)
railcars and one (1) locomotive. The railcars are interchangeable and routinely move in
and out of service for maintenance activities. As a result, railcars are frequently
reassigned to different train consists based on operational needs and equipment
availability.
2. Purpose
Through this Request for Information IRFI), VRE seeks to understand and assess the
current market availability of proven technical solutions capable of delivering continuous
Wi-Fi connectivity on VRE trains.
VRE solicits information on approaches that prioritize operational bandwidth needs while
also supporting passenger-facing connectivity as an amenity, recognizing that limited
service gaps may be acceptable in constrained areas, such as the 1st Street Tunnel in
Washington, DC.
Respondents are invited to describe their technical approach, including system
architecture, service reliability, and access methods, as well as to provide estimates of
the costs expected to be incurred by VRE for implementation and ongoing operations and
maintenance to inform future VRE procurement strategies. However, issuance of this
Request for Information (RFI) does not obligate VRE to issue a related solicitation or
procurement opportunity in the future.
This Request for Information (RFI) is issued for informational and planning
purposes only, and responses submitted to VRE shall not be construed as offers.
This RFI does not obligate VRE to reimburse any costs incurred in the preparation
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RFI No. 026-012 - On-Train Wi-Fi
or submission of a response, nor does it commit VRE to procure or to execute a
contract for any goods or services described herein.
3. Requested Information (RFI) Response)
Respondents are requested to review the background and purpose included in this RFI
and provide responses to the items below. VRE is seeking detailed information on
available technologies, implementation approaches, operational considerations, and cost
structures for providing reliable Wi-Fi connectivity on-board its trains.
To assist VRE in understanding potential solutions, Respondents shall address the
following areas, as applicable:
Identify the name of the Respondent to include the mailing address of the
company/firm and the telephone number and email address of the primary point of
contact.
Identify how long the company/firm has been in business.
Technical Approach: Describe the proposed solution architecture for delivering
continuous or near-continuous Wi-Fi connectivity on moving trains, including
backhaul methods (e.g., cellular, satellite, hybrid), onboard equipment, and
network design.
Coverage and Performance: Explain expected service performance, including
data speeds, latency, reliability, and anticipated coverage limitations (e.g., the 1st
Street Tunnel and other known dead zones).
Operational Priorities: Identify how the solution prioritizes operational
communications versus passenger-facing internet access, including any quality-
of-service controls or bandwidth management strategies.
Passenger Access Model: Describe how passengers would access the service
(e.g., open access, authentication portal, advertising-supported access,
subscription model, or hybrid approaches).
Infrastructure and Equipment Requirements: Outline any required onboard,
wayside, or third-party infrastructure, including installation requirements and
compatibility with existing rail equipment.
Security and Compliance: Summarize cybersecurity protections, data privacy
considerations, and compliance with applicable federal, state, or industry
standards. Also explain the ability to meet Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Buy America requirements.
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RFI No. 026-012 - On-Train Wi-Fi
Scalability and Reliability: Describe how the solution scales across the VRE fleet
and maintains service reliability under varying ridership and network conditions.
Implementation Approach: Provide a high-level deployment strategy, including
estimated timeline, phasing, and any dependencies.
Cost Structure: Provide a rough order-of-magnitude estimate or cost framework
for both initial deployment and ongoing operations and maintenance, including any
usage-based or subscription pricing models.
Relevant Experience: Provide examples of similar deployments in commuter rail,
intercity rail, or other high-mobility transportation environments. For each
deployment provide the name of the client as well as the telephone number and
email address for a client point of contact.
4. Submission of Responses
Responses to this RFI must be sent (as an attachment in PDF) via electronic mail to
VRE's Director of Purchasing and Contract Administration, whose name and email
address are identified on the cover of this RFI.
In the subject line of the email, please insert "RFI No. 026-012 Response".
The VRE Director of Purchasing and Contract Administration is the only individual
authorized to discuss this RFI with any interested party prior to receipt of responses. All
communications to the VRE Director of Purchasing and Contract Administration shall be
in writing via email.
All submissions must be received by 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time on June 4, 2026.
5. VRE's Rights and Obligations
VRE reserves all rights (which rights shall be exercised by VRE in its sole discretion)
available to it under applicable law, including without limitation, the following, with or
without cause and with or without notice to Respondents.
The right to cancel, withdraw, postpone or extend the RFI in whole or in part at any
time, without incurring any obligations or liabilities.
The right it issue a new RFI.
The right to reject any submittals and responses received at any time for any
reason.
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RFI No. 026-012 - On-Train Wi-Fi
The right to modify all dates set or projected in this RFI.
The right to terminate review of responses received at any time.
The right to waive or permit corrections to data submitted with any response to this
RFI.
The right to issue addenda, supplements, and modifications to this RFI.
The right to hold meetings and conduct discussions and correspondence with one
or more of the Respondents responding to this RFI to seek and improved
understanding of the responses to the RFI.
The right to test or conduct a proof of concept utilizing the technology and/or
solution proposed by one or more Respondents.
The right to use information provided in response to this RFI to develop and inform
future solicitations issued by VRE.
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