Station WiFi Spreading – as Waterloo Joins the Pack

Network Rail has launched fast free WiFi at London’s Waterloo Station. Working with partners GlobalReach Technology and Telent, NR has now installed passenger internet access across 19 UK major, mainline train stops.  

The connections, which can be picked up again seamlessly at any of NR’s managed mainline stations, are provided across Waterloo’s sprawling array of concourses, platforms, forecourts, taxi ranks and mezzanine floors.

Station WiFi is spreading rapidly across the rail world, with India currently leading the way. Last week, RailTel - the privatised former subsidiary of Indian Railways - announced that it had launched a free WiFi service at its 6,100^th railway station. At least 5,000 of these are in rural areas and provide a vital online link for the surrounding communities. In January of this year, RailTel issued a Request for Proposals to provide an on-board entertainment service at the stations, as well as on over 2,000 trains.

Last year, Deutsche Bahn announced plans to install free WiFi at Germany’s 100 largest train stations and French passengers can benefit from it in over 250 stations, however, Spain and Italy have so far only kitted out a small number of mainline stations and some commuter stops.

Speaking at the Waterloo launch, Cem Davis, NR’s station manager said “We are committed to doing everything we can to make sure the station experience is as smooth and enjoyable as it can be for all our passengers, colleagues and station users, especially as we welcome more people back to the railway, and providing free WiFi is a key part of that.”

The 19 Network Rail stations now offering free WiFi are Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Clapham Junction, Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central, Guildford, Leeds City, Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Reading, London Bridge, London Cannon Street, London Charing Cross, London Euston, London King’s Cross, London Liverpool Street, London Paddington, London Victoria and London Waterloo.

Track-side connectivity and on-board WiFi provision will be the main subjects of this year’s Traincomms Conference. 

Please see the brand new www.Traincomms.com web-site, where you can also sign up for our Free WiFi on Trains News Service.

Or, to discuss exhibiting at the conference, please contact Ross.Parsons@BWCS.com

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