Business leaders across the South West are urging the UK Government to accelerate deployment of Formula 1‑derived onboard Wi‑Fi technology following a breakthrough pilot on Great Western Railway (GWR).
More than 60 regional businesses — including SMEs and global organisations — have signed a letter to the Secretary of State calling for part of the £57m allocated in the 2025 Spending Review to be directed towards delivering next‑generation connectivity on mainline services. Their intervention follows a similar appeal from MPs last week.
After two months of delivering what many passengers described as “home‑quality” speeds, the pilot has gained significant national support from both industry and policymakers.
A Game‑Changing Technology Trial
The Peninsula Transport 60‑day trial, run on a GWR Intercity Express Train, tested British mobility technology originally developed for Formula 1 motorsport. The hybrid system combines 4G/5G mobile masts with low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, overcoming long‑standing issues with mobile coverage on UK rail routes.
The pilot was delivered in partnership with Peninsula Transport, Motion Applied (formerly McLaren Applied), GWR, Network Rail and Hitachi Rail.
Feedback from passengers has been overwhelmingly positive, with many describing the upgrade as “transformational”. With £12m in Government backing, the technology could begin rolling out across the GWR network as early as November.
Industry Leaders Call for Investment
Claire Pearce, Chair of the South West Business Council, emphasised the importance of robust digital connectivity:
“Better internet connectivity on long distance trains is vital to business. We want to do all we can to grow the regional and national economy, and we cannot afford to lose working time because of unreliable or slow internet connections. The pilot has shown what can be done and we need to see action to make this a reality on intercity trains.”
Councillor Dan Rogerson, Chair of the Peninsula Rail Task Force, echoed the urgency:
“This pilot shows that world-class onboard Wi-Fi on Britain’s railways is not only possible – it’s ready to deliver now. For too long, passengers in the South West and South Wales have experienced some of the poorest connectivity in the country. With a relatively modest investment, we can transform that experience across one of the UK’s largest rail networks, unlocking real productivity benefits for passengers and the UK economy.”
Key Results from the Pilot
- 98% uptime — delivering stable connectivity even in recognised mobile blackspots
- 100Mbps+ download speeds — meeting superfast broadband standards
- Peaks of 400Mbps — reaching ultrafast broadband levels
- 17,680 devices connected during the trial period
- Average data use: 186MB per passenger — supporting Teams/Zoom, cloud uploads, HD streaming and more
With business leaders, passengers and MPs aligned, the regional rail industry now awaits the Government’s decision on whether to fund a full rollout.
Image credit: iStock
