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First UK On-Train WiFi Service Launches Monday

Posted by timothy on from the train-travel-rules dept.

dave writes "UK train company GNER starts trials of the UK's first on-train wireless Internet access service. Currently only available on limited services and in First Class; if the trial is successful the service will be rolled out across the entire fleet in both Standard and First Class."

12 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. The real cost... by chill · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...was making the first class coaches into Faraday Cages so the dweebs in Stanard Class couldn't snag some airtime.

    I can also see some desparate geek trying to download his e-mail -- while zipping along at 100 kph in his car, parallel to the train.

    --
    Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
    1. Re:The real cost... by bonsaiburner · · Score: 4, Funny

      Fact is you could probably *walk* next to the train and get a decent connection... 5MPH seems to be about the average speed of a UK train these days, that's if a train turns up at all...

      Nice to see GNER have got their priorities straight - the state of our railway system leaves a lot to be desired and I'm sure the money could be better spent - and that's from a geek with as much wireless tech as anyone else :)

  2. VIA Already has this by yani · · Score: 5, Informative
    VIA (the national train service in Canada) already has this on thier first class cars, see here.

    I've seen one go by while I was at the train station on day waiting for the commuter train but it was going by a bit too quickly for me to try to grab a connection with my axim x3i :P

  3. Re:The problem I have with trains by ender81b · · Score: 4, Informative

    I've been riding the trains in the UK for the past 6 months ish and I don't understand what people's problem with them is. If they are delayed it is almost never more than 10 minutes and if it is greater than 10 minutes it's usually due to something weird like lightning hitting the tracks or some other thing. 9 times out of 10 your train is never delayed and you don't run into problems.

    To me, as an american, the trains are fan-fucking-tastic. American mass transportation systems can't come close to the ease and convience that the British get from the train system. Personally, I love it. Get on whatever train you want come back on whatever train you want at any time. It's great.

    Now, for me, I want wireless and I want it now ;). The 4 hour train ride to London would be much much much easier to deal with if I could have my precious intarweb with me.

  4. Re:what a stupid idea by anubi · · Score: 5, Insightful
    "seriously, how hard would it have been to stick an ethernet port in each seat? my guess is that they went with WiFi only because it was cheaper (less rework to the train)"
    Well, it is a public train. The only way I see they could possibly do this is through the air... where there is nothing for anyone to damage. People can be very destructive.

    I will guarantee you if you put ethernet ports out, within hours they will be plugged with chewing gum. Its just the way people are. Most of us are pure pigs. Talk to any custodian of a public place if you don't believe me.

    --
    "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]

  5. Thank you... by blowdart · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now maybe people will send "I'm on the train" emails, instead of forcing the whole carriage to listen to one half of your mobile phone conversation.

  6. Re:The problem I have with trains by mikeb · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I am genuinely mystified by the common practise of citing recnet rail crashes as, so far as I can tell, evidence of systemic failure in the railway system. The rail crashes and loss of life are naturally terrible events and wherever possible strenuous efforts should be made to eliminate the causes of them BUT BUT BUT - on average six people die every day on British roads.

    It's a bad YEAR when six die on the rails. Even if it has deteriorated somewhat in recent years (and should therefore be given urgent attention), it's in a different league from the risks associated with road travel.

    Yet you wait in vain to hear calls for public enquiries into the deadly state of the road transport system. Why is that? I'm not making a political point here, I'm genuinely amazed that these two situations exist: a dangerous transport system alongside one that is very much better with the latter attracting the 'we must make it safer' publicity.

    It just doesn't make sense to me.

  7. France is doing it too by Krunch · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here is a link (PDF). Sorry it's in French but I can't find one in English. Here is the Google translation of the HTML version.

    --
    No GNU has been Hurd during the making of this comment.
  8. More technical details by nickovs · · Score: 4, Informative

    The technology for this is provided by Icomera. There are some more data about what their technology does, though not really much about how it works. Their speciality seems to be "Seamless Handover" between the different types of network connection.

    --
    If intelligent life is too complex to evolve on its own, who designed God?
  9. Re:The problem I have with trains by Zemran · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is a very good point. It is also worth adding that if you are on a motorway and are involved in an accident with other cars the risk of death is very low because all the energy is travelling in the same direction regardless of speed. On the other hand, if a lorry is involved the risk of death goes through the roof. That freight should be on the rails... We need to shift back to rail rather than abandon it.

    I have to stop before I get into a political rant about fuel tax etc. and lack of investment on rail...

    --
    I love stacking my barbecues in the shed at the end of summer - you can't beat a bit of grill on grill action.
  10. Will we notice the difference? by SW6 · · Score: 5, Funny
    "The. Eight. Oh two. Packets to. London. Are running approximately. Sixty Five. Minutes late. GNER apologise for the late running of your Internet Connection."

    "The nine-*crackle* packets from *garble* will now be arriving at platform *mumble*."

  11. Rail safety ... by JonyEpsilon · · Score: 4, Funny
    You will experience approximately the same kind of quality as with a DSL connection though the connection speed will vary based on obstacles along the railway track

    Never mind the connection speed varying - we're all gonna die !