Summary
By 2028, Network Rail plans to eliminate areas with poor mobile phone signals on major train lines and tunnels in Britain. This will involve installing 4G and 5G networks with the help of two private telecom companies.
Key Facts
- Network Rail aims to remove mobile signal blackspots on major railway lines by 2028.
- The project will install 1,000km of high-speed fibre optic cable on parts of the East Coast and West Coast Main Lines.
- Neos Networks will also add cables to the Great Western and Chiltern Main Lines.
- The plan is to eventually extend to more than 5,000km of tracks, but the exact timeline is not yet defined.
- Freshwave will address signal problems in 57 train tunnels covering about 50km.
- New 4G and 5G infrastructure will be installed at 12 major train stations, including locations like Birmingham New Street and Edinburgh Waverley.
- Private funding from telecom companies for the project is expected to save taxpayers approximately £300 million.
- The improvements aim to enhance passenger experiences by providing better connectivity and reducing call drop-offs during train journeys.
