Government consults on better train communications

The Government is consulting on ways of improving mobile telephone and internet connectivity on trains.

In its call for evidence for commercial options for delivering mobile connectivity on trains, published in December 2017, the Government acknowledges the challenges of providing consistent mobile signal on trains - whether because of infrastructure such as tunnels or the nature of trains themselves, which tend to act as ‘Faraday Cages’ and block signals.

A trackside model is suggested, comprising base stations and masts linked by fibre optic cables with radio systems on trains linking to the trackside system.

The Government announced an initial £30 million of funding for a trial between Manchester and York in 2017. The target for track-to-train bandwidth is at least 1Gb per second to each train, and the Government says it will ask Ofcom to identify the minimum bandwidth needed per passenger in the same way that it does for households.

The consultation also asks what revenue streams could result from better connectivity to trains, including whether extension of fibre optic cables alongside the track could help provide better broadband for rural communities. The Government says it wants to “maximise the level of commercial investment in the rollout of a trackside model”, and is seeking responses as to the best way of generating this.

Railfuture spokesman Bruce Williamson said: “WiFi has moved from being an optional extra to something essential for the 21st century rail passenger, so we welcome any improvements to capacity and coverage.

“It should become absolutely standard for all trains on the British railway network to have seamless connectivity, as it’s essential for attracting the smartphoneconnected generation to rail, as well as the business traveller working on the move.”

The consultation concludes on February 7. Responses can be emailed to connectivityonrail@ culture.gov.uk