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Better WiFi for hundreds of trains under government plans
Ministers say the upgrade will lift WiFi availability from 50% to at least 90% as satellite links replace mobile-network service.
- The UK government will roll out satellite-connected WiFi on more than 1,400 main line trains, backed by £57m in funding following successful trials across LNER, South Western Railway and Great Western Railway.
- Persistent internet 'blackspots' on Britain's main line trains prompted the initiative, as passengers have long viewed reliable connectivity as essential and Transport Focus welcomed improvements to tackle coverage gaps.
- 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," with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expected to announce the plans this summer.
- Campaign for Better Transport called the move a "real step change," though Michael Solomon Williams stressed unreliable internet was not stopping passengers from using trains, and Rail Future emphasized "the key issues remain the cost of travel, overcrowding and reliability."
- The satellite WiFi rollout forms part of the government's wider modernization through Great British Railway, aiming to improve coverage from 50-60% to at least 90% across journeys while ministers continue addressing fares and service reliability.
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Leaning Left0Leaning Right1Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
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- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
C 67%
R 33%
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