GNER inter city trains to get Wi-Fi by August

UK rail operator GNER this week said all its East Coast Mainline trains will provide passengers with Wi-Fi internet access this summer.

GNER began trialling on-board Wi-Fi in December 2003 and has since equipped ten of its Mallard-class trains, which run between London King's Cross and Leeds, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh. This week it said it was accelerating the roll-out, bringing the wireless technology to the rest of the Mallard fleet and to its 13 remaining diesel High Speed Trains.

Originally due to be completed by May 2007, the scheme will now be finished by August this year, GNER pledged.

The company's system, designed by Swedish on-the-move internet access specialist Icomera, uses line-of-sight satellite links for the main connection, with GPRS and 3G mobile phone links as back up and to provide connectivity when trains are in tunnels and covered stations.

Access is offered to First Class passengers free of charge; Standard Class travellers pay £2.95 to £ 9.95 for 30-180 minutes' access. ®