UK government to upgrade onboard train wifi coverage

The UK government is set to upgrade wifi coverage onboard the country’s trains, with the promise to “rocket boost” internet connectivity, according to media reports.

The £57 million initiative will see wifi provided via satellite on more than 1,400 trains operating in the UK. It will replace the current inconsistent system of using signals from mobile phone masts, which has long been a source of frustration for business travellers.

Government sources said this project could increase wifi availability up to around 90 per cent of UK rail journeys — a significant improvement from the current coverage rate of 50-60 per cent of train trips.

Several rail operators, including LNER, South Western Railway and Great Western Railway, have been trialling satellite-based wifi connectivity since November 2025.

Clive Wratten, CEO of the UK-based Business Travel Association, welcomed the move to improve wifi on the UK rail network as the service was a “core productivity tool” for business travellers.

“Unlike other modes of travel, rail offers a long, uninterrupted block of time,” added Wratten. “Without reliable wifi, that focus window turns into dead time. If this wifi works effectively, travellers can turn a train journey into a seamless extension of the office.”

A BTA survey found that 47 per cent of respondents were willing to shift to more sustainable modes of travel, such as trains, if there were improved onboard facilities, such as reliable wifi.