Ministers backtrack on trains Wi-Fi
MINISTERS are quietly retreating from Theresa May’s election pledge to end the problem of patchy mobile phone signal and Wi-Fi on train journeys, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose.
Margot James, the digital minister, has cancelled a trial scheme to improve internet and phone connectivity on trains, as she privately admitted that it would be “challenging” for the Government to fulfil its manifesto pledge for “full and interrupted” mobile and internet reception on all main line services by 2022.
In a letter to the Cabinet Office, seen by this newspaper, Ms James said her department was now considering whether to approach private compa- nies “for commercial provision of these services”, but suggested the deadline would be pushed back as part of efforts “for a successful exit from the EU”.
The Conservatives’ 2017 election manifesto stated that all “main line trains will enjoy full and uninterrupted mobile phone signal, alongside guaranteed Wi-Fi internet service on all such trains” by 2022.
A series of other pledges have been abandoned since Mrs May lost her majority in the election, including allowing a free vote in the Commons on overturning the ban on foxhunting, and providing a free breakfast for every primary school pupil.
Tom Watson, the shadow culture secretary, said: “The UK already lags way behind most of Europe on mobile as well as broadband coverage and download speeds. Rather than cancelling the pilot, the Government should be prioritising delivering on this commitment and getting our train lines connected on time.” In the 2017 Budget Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, announced a £30million scheme to install infrastructure, including masts, along a stretch of the Trans-Pennine route between Manchester, Leeds and York, as a pilot scheme. The scheme was billed by the Government as the first step in fulfilling the manifesto pledge.
But in her letter, Ms James said her department had decided to “stop the planned passenger trial of high-speed connectivity”.
Ms James said the estimated cost of building the masts “has increased significantly” and a consultation last year revealed that “the commercial terms of participating in the passenger trial are not attractive to the telecoms industry, particularly given uncertainty over the Government’s longer-term strategy”.
She ended the trial before “significant public funds” were spent on the scheme, after concluding that there was “no realistic prospect” of it yielding value for money.
She added: “During the early part of 2019 it is likely that we will want to seek colleagues’ views about the Government’s wider position on connectivity on UK railways, including progress towards the challenging manifesto commitment of uninterrupted mobile connectivity and good quality Wi-Fi on all mainline trains.
“We are considering the scope to approach the market for commercial provision of these services. I am clear, however, that this work cannot come at the expense of preparing for a successful exit from the EU, and timings may have to reflect this.”
A spokesman for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said “The fibre cable deployment along the route is on track to be completed by May 2019 and we remain committed to testing 5G on transport networks.”