Better WiFi for hundreds of trains under government plans

The WiFi on more than 1,400 of Britain's main line trains is set to be upgraded under government plans to connect fleet systems to low-Earth orbit satellites. The £57 million initiative aims to replace the current system, which relies on 4G and 5G signals from local mobile network masts, with a faster and more reliable service.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to announce the plans this summer. The government hopes the upgrade will improve on-board WiFi availability from the current 50% to 60% up to at least 90%. The roll-out follows a trial of the technology across operators including LNER, South Western Railway, and Great Western Railway.

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 source added that the government is "tackling the bread-and-butter issues passengers care about most to build a railway people can rely on and be proud of" as it establishes Great British Railway, a new umbrella body for rail services and infrastructure.

While passenger groups welcomed the development, they noted that internet access is secondary to concerns over cost and reliability. Bruce Williamson, a spokesman for the campaign group Rail Future, said that patchy WiFi was not the top priority for passengers. "The key issues remain the cost of travel, overcrowding and reliability," Williamson said, adding, "But anything we can do to attract people onto the railways has got to be a good thing."

Michael Solomon Williams of the Campaign for Better Transport called the move a "real step change." He said, "It's worth taking a step to recognise how fantastic that is, and it adds a real USP to rail travel." However, Williams noted that fares, delays, and cancellations remain the main issues preventing passenger travel, though he noted ministers are also working to address those concerns.

Transport Focus, an independent watchdog representing public transport passengers, also welcomed the effort to resolve connectivity issues. "Rail passengers have been clear for years that reliable connectivity on trains is no longer a 'nice to have' - it's essential," the watchdog stated.