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Traveling on a train from London to Norwich, BBC’s Grace Dean notices an unusual occurrence: the onboard wi-fi connection remains relatively stable throughout her journey. This steady access allows her to keep up with emails, communicate with her team, and participate in clear audio calls. Fellow passenger Rebecca Kendall, who commutes for about two hours six times a month as a charity operations head, also manages to work during the trip using the wi-fi. However, she admits that this consistency is not the norm, as the connection often falters or fails to work outright.
Rebecca describes a typical journey as one where she gets through only about half the tasks she would usually complete at her desk due to unreliable internet. She takes caution when arranging calls and prefers not to schedule important video conferences because the connection can be so erratic. “I just wouldn’t risk having an important video call,” she confesses. Such experiences mirror frustrations shared by many UK rail passengers who struggle with unpredictable on-train wi-fi, where either no connection is available or the signal fluctuates, further complicated by mobile data interruptions in tunnels.
According to a 2025 report by network testing firm Ookla, the UK ranks near the bottom of European and Asian countries for onboard wi-fi speed, placing 16th out of 18. Average speeds hover at 1.09 Mbps, a stark contrast to much faster connections in Sweden (64.58 Mbps) and Switzerland (29.79 Mbps). This disparity is especially noticeable considering the UK’s household and small business internet average download speed stands at 285 Mbps according to Ofcom. Recognizing the problem, the government has announced proposals to enhance train wi-fi over the next five years by equipping 1,400 nationalized service trains with technology that connects to low-earth orbit satellites rather than relying solely on mobile networks.
The plan aims to elevate wi-fi availability from around 50-60% to at least 90%, increasing speeds by five to ten times. The Department for Transport (DfT) is allocating £57 million to this project, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expected to make a formal announcement during the summer. These efforts build on recent trials involving satellite connectivity across several operators and regions, including Scotland. Presently, wi-fi on trains depends on 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile data signals, and the DfT acknowledges that when there is no signal in an area, both train wi-fi and passengers’ direct mobile services are rendered useless.
Despite attempts to improve, connectivity still varies greatly, as Dean experienced later on another Greater Anglia service, where the internet dropped in and out during her return journey to London. Greater Anglia explains that the quality of their wi-fi depends on the route location and passenger load, with certain video and music streaming sites restricted. Passengers like teacher Caitlin Roberts, who often travels to Wigan and Doncaster, frequently prepare by downloading entertainment ahead of time, as the connection rarely suffices for working onboard. Others, such as Nelson Ntumba, sometimes welcome the digital break when signals fail but acknowledge “major issues” accessing train wi-fi. For commuters like Rebecca, the current unreliability means online work and communications remain a challenge despite the gradual improvements on the horizon
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