Free ScotRail Wi-Fi To Be Funded By Scottish Government
Holyrood pledges £2 million to roll out wireless networks on selected Scottish express trains in 2013
Scottish rail passengers will benefit from free Wi-Fi on ScotRail express trains, following a £2 million investment from the Scottish government. Wi-Fi networks will be installed on all 59 of the train operator’s ‘class 170’ rolling stock which currently run between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh, and those serving the Fife and Stirling areas.
The first Wi-Fi-enabled trains will come online from March 2013, with five or six new locomotives added each month. In addition, ScotRail says that it will provide train running information and other services on the Wi-Fi landing page.
Free ScotRail Wi-Fi coming
Wi-Fi has already been installed in four trains as part of a successful trial earlier this summer. Customer feedback revealed that 77 percent of customers were satisfied with speed and performance. Nearly three quarters used the service for personal use, with 28 percent using it for business, but the initiative has been welcomed by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.
“We have an absolute commitment to bringing better connectivity to every corner of Scotland and I have been highly encouraged by the success of ScotRail pilot scheme,” said Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown. “A major challenge for the transport industry is embracing new technologies to meet the demands of passengers and help them get on with their ever more busy lives while travelling.
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