Business leaders call for accelerated rollout of WiFi on South West trains
Sixty regional businesses, ranging from SMEs to global organisations, have signed a letter to the Secretary of State
Business leaders in the South West are calling on the UK Government to accelerate the deployment of advanced onboard Wi-Fi technology across the Great Western Railway (GWR) network.
Their appeal comes after a successful pilot scheme showed promising results and received backing from industry and policymakers.
Sixty regional businesses, ranging from SMEs to global organisations, have signed a letter to the Secretary of State, advocating for part of the £57 million allocated in the 2025 Spending Review to be used for next-generation connectivity on mainline services.
The pilot programme, carried out over two months, delivered high-speed internet that many passengers praised as “home-quality”.
Success of pilot Wi-Fi technology
The Peninsula Transport conducted a 60-day trial using a GWR Intercity Express Train equipped with British technology originally developed for Formula 1.
The hybrid system employs 4G/5G mobile masts alongside low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, addressing longstanding issues of poor mobile coverage on UK railways.
Peninsula Transport and several other partners, including Motion Applied, GWR, Network Rail, and Hitachi Rail, were involved in the pilot.
With the potential for £12 million in government support, the technology could be part of the GWR network by November.
Passenger feedback from the trial has been overwhelmingly positive, with descriptions often highlighting its "transformational" impact.
Industry support for investment in digital connectivity
Claire Pearce, Chair of the South West Business Council, stressed the importance of reliable internet connectivity on trains for businesses.
“Better internet connectivity on long-distance trains is vital to business. We want to do all we can to grow the regional and national economy, and we cannot afford to lose working time because of unreliable or slow internet connections. The pilot has shown what can be done and we need to see action to make this a reality on intercity trains,” she said.
Echoing these sentiments, Councillor Dan Rogerson, Chair of the Peninsula Rail Task Force, highlighted the urgency of expanding the technology.
“This pilot shows that world-class onboard Wi-Fi on Britain’s railways is not only possible – it’s ready to deliver now. For too long, passengers in the South West and South Wales have experienced some of the poorest connectivity in the country. With a relatively modest investment, we can transform that experience across one of the UK’s largest rail networks, unlocking real productivity benefits for passengers and the UK economy,” Rogerson said.
Key findings from the Wi-Fi trial
The pilot revealed several important outcomes, including:
- 98% uptime, providing steady connectivity even in known mobile blackspots
- Download speeds over 100Mbps, matching superfast broadband standards
- Peak speeds reaching 400Mbps, achieving ultrafast broadband levels
- 17,680 devices connected during the trial
Average data consumption of 186MB per passenger, supporting activities such as HD streaming, cloud uploads, and video conferencing
With substantial support from business leaders, passengers, and MPs, anticipation is high within the regional rail industry as they await the Government's decision on funding a full rollout.
'Working to harness cutting-edge satellite technology'
A DfT spokesperson said: “We understand connectivity on trains can be patchy, which is why we’re working to harness cutting-edge satellite technology to ensure passengers can enjoy fast, reliable internet on our mainline trains.
“Great British Railways will deliver a railway fit for the 21st century, with more comfortable and convenient trains for passengers.”