Railways: Mobile Broadband
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve mobile and internet connectivity on long-distance rail services between Scotland and London.
Answered by Simon Lightwood
There have been no recent discussions with Starlink on satellite services for trains.
The Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of satellite technology on (a) mobile and (b) internet connectivity on long-distance rail services between Scotland and London and as a result of the spending review, we secured funding to deliver low earth orbit satellite technology on all mainline trains to improve on train passenger wifi. This will include services between London and Scotland, such as LNER and Avanti West Coast.
However, we know satellite connectivity will not work in tunnels. Network Rail's Project Reach will address mobile connectivity in 57 key mainline tunnels which will include tunnels along the East Coast Mainline and West Coast Mainline.
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