News

Station WiFi Starts to Move …

(22 Jan 2024, BWCS Staff)
The non-mobile counterpoint to on-train WiFi, Station WiFi, appears to be making quite an impact in at least two major rail markets. In the UK, nearly half-a million travellers every month are reportedly logging on to the Telent-managed WiFi services at the country’s busiest mainline stations. Meanwhile, in India, RailTel, the privatised off-shoot of Indian Railways, has launched a scheme to monetise the WiFi connections at over 6,190 railways stations across the subcontinent. In Britain, Telent recently completed an extensive programme to design and install WiFi networks at 19......

Underground Connections - Berlin U-Bahn Moves Closer On-Train WiFi

(15 Jan 2024, BWCS Staff)
The saga of getting WiFi onto trains on the Berlin U-Bahn turned a new page this week as Stadler delivered its first test vehicle to network operator Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG). The move is particularly significant for Berlin commuters, as the new generation of yellow carriages will come fitted out with WiFi connectivity. It was back in March 2020 that, following a legal dispute, Stadler, was officially awarded the €3 billion long-term contract to supply 1,500 metro cars to BVG. The new vehicles come with passenger information screens, more space and, importantly for frustrated......

RailRunner Shoots for the Stars in WiFi Upgrade

(06 Dec 2023, BWCS Staff)
The New Mexico RailRunner has become the latest train service to switch to satellite-delivered connections for its passenger Internet service. WiFi has been available on board since 2010, but now the Rio Metro Regional Transit District, which operates the service, says it is time for an upgrade. Ten RailRunner trains a day cover the 100-mile route from Belen to Santa Fe, stopping at 13 stations along the way. Previously, passenger Internet requirements on board were met by a 22 base-station, WiMax system, installed by AzulStar and provided by Alvarion. However, commuter complaints about......

CGI Heads Trial of Seamless Hybrid/Cellular Delivery of Improved Connectivity to Trains

(30 Oct 2023, BWCS Staff)
IT consulting giant CGI is currently running live trials in the UK aimed at improving WiFi and mobile connectivity to trains. The pilot project uses a combination of low-earth orbit satellite and terrestrial cellular networks to overcome coverage gaps. CGI is working with Eutelsat OneWeb, part of the Eutelsat Group and Icomera. Together, the partners hope to show how constellations of communication satellites can seamlessly fill in gaps in terrestrial coverage of Britain’s rail network and provide additional capacity in a cost-effective way. The emergence of Low Earth Orbit......

Two More Operators to Speak at Traincomms 2023

(30 Oct 2023, BWCS Staff)
Trenitalia and Lithuanian Railways (with a report on its Starlink satellite-delivered on-train WiFi service), are the latest train operators to sign up to speak at this year’s WiFi on Trains Conference - Traincomms 2023 (November 14th and 15th in London). The pair will join fellow operators from around the world discussing their progress and problems in delivering WiFi on board. Other train companies speaking include – Amtrak, Network Rail, SNCF, Deutsche Bahn, CCJPA, SJ Trains, Transport for London, Eurostar, Turkish Railways, Thalys, OBB, TGV Lyria and many others … As......