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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."

6 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. 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

  2. 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]

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.
  6. 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*."