
But high-speed internet still a year away for passengers...
By Andy McCue
Published: 9 February 2006 11:10 GMT
Virgin Trains is planning to roll out wireless broadband internet access for passengers on its west coast and cross-country franchise services following a successful pilot of the technology last year.
The main routes that will be equipped with internet access first are the west coast services including London to Birmingham, London to Manchester and London to Liverpool.
The rail company is currently inviting expressions of interest from suppliers before a full tender for the contract to provide "continuous connectivity" and "broadband level of speed" on its trains.
The service will allow customers to access company networks and emails as well as doubtless offering Virgin-related entertainment services including movie and audio downloads.
Wi-fi operator Broadroach has already been working with Virgin Trains on a pilot project that saw wireless hotspots installed at 20 stations along Virgin's west coast line as well as wireless connectivity built into the company's high-speed tilting Pendolino carriages.
A spokesman for Virgin Trains told silicon.com the trial has gone well and that on-board high-speed internet access will be available for passengers sometime in the next 12 to 18 months
He said: "We have been running a trial which has proved very successful."
East coast mainline rail operator GNER has also started to offer broadband internet access for first class passengers on its London to Edinburgh route and said last year that it plans to equip every train in its fleet with a wireless data communications system.
Nice idea although with my experience of travellin...
pete jones
This is prize!
I wonder if Virgin has any inten...
John Long
Nice idea - it will be interesting to see if they ...
Anonymous
the reason that we have short trains is that most ...
Anonymous
Funny, according to the Broareach website they hav...
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