Better WiFi for hundreds of trains under government plans

More than 1,400 main line trains across the UK will receive a WiFi upgrade using low-earth satellite technology. The government expects the change to deliver faster and more reliable connectivity than onboard WiFi powered by mobile networks. The rollout follows a trial across operators including LNER, South Western Railway, and Great Western Railway, supported by £57m in funding. The plan targets improving WiFi availability from about 50–60% to at least 90%. Campaign groups welcomed the reliability and capacity benefits, while emphasizing that passengers’ main concerns remain rail costs, overcrowding, and overall reliability. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to announce the plans this summer.

"New technology will be rolled out on more than 1,400 trains across the UK allowing them to connect to low-earth satellites, which ministers say will provide faster and more reliable service than the mobile networks currently powering on-board WiFi. A government source said the upgrade would "rocket boost connectivity on every main line train in Britain over the next few years, tackling both slow speeds and irritating not-spots"."

"The government hopes it will improve WiFi availability across journeys from between 50-60% to at least 90%, and prove more effective than the current system of relying on 4G and 5G signal provided by local mobile network operators' masts. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to make an announcement about the plans this summer."

"Campaign group Rail Future told the BBC it was "absolutely right that reliability and capacity increase", calling WiFi "not just an add-on or a luxury". Spokesman Bruce Williamson said patchy WiFi was not the "top priority" for passengers - "the key issues remain the cost of travel, overcrowding and reliability". "But anything we can do to attract people onto the railways has got to be a good thing.""

"The Campaign for Better Transport, which advocates for sustainable and accessible travel, said the move would be a "real step change". "It's worth taking a step to recognise how fantastic that is, and it adds a real USP to rail travel," said the campaign's Michael Solomon Willi"

Read at www.bbc.com