Wed, 25 Jun 2025

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 No phone signal on your train? There may be a fix - by 2028

Network Rail signs deal which will it claims will see an improvement to phone connectivity on trains and stations.

* Network Rail aims to eliminate mobile phone blackspots on several major railway lines and train tunnels by 2028
* The project, called Project Reach, involves installing ultra-fast fibre optic cable along parts of the East Coast Main Line, West Coast Main Line, Great Western Main Line, and Chiltern Main Line
* Telecoms firm Neos Networks will install cables along these routes, covering over 1,000km in the first instance, with plans to expand to more than 5,000km in the near future
* Another telecoms company Freshwave has been handed the job of eliminating blackspots in 57 tunnels, including the Chipping Sodbury tunnel near Bristol
* Mobile network operators BT, O2, and Vodafone will work together to upgrade mobile connectivity in these tunnels
* The project is expected to take three years, with works only occurring when trains are not running on tracks
* Private investment in the project is estimated to save taxpayers around £300m, as the telecoms companies are funding it rather than Network Rail
* The deal will see 4G and 5G connectivity boosted on trains and in stations, transforming journeys for passengers with weak internet connections and dropped calls.
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