New research reveals mobile performance was poor on between 58% and 83% of tests carried out on trains, depending on mobile network
    Watchdog calls for mobile companies, local authorities and others to step up as part of national effort to enhance the quality and reliability of mobile service across the country

Mobile networks typically offer a poor-quality service to train passengers, according to new research from the regulator Ofcom, which has today called for a nationwide effort to improve the state of mobile service in the UK.

Ofcom’s research measured mobile performance across 24 segments of key railway lines covering England, Scotland and Wales, making it the most comprehensive dedicated study available on the subject to date. It looked at how often a phone could achieve good performance, defined as minimum download speeds of 5 Mbits per second, upload speeds of at least 1.5 Mbits per second, and a response time of 50 milliseconds or less, which would typically let people make video calls, stream content or scroll social media [1].

The research found that EE met those standards on 42% of the segments of railway lines that were measured, Three on 21%, O2 on 20% and Vodafone on 17%.

The results, which reflect the reality for passengers on lines up and down the country, show that for too many people, stepping on board can mean going off grid.

The research highlights the core problem that mobile signal from masts on the ground often isn’t strong enough around train lines and that some carriage types are difficult for signals to pass through.

On-board Wi-Fi provided by train companies was also measured and performed well just 1% of the time. This was largely due to outdated technology delivering the service, as well as speed caps.

Separately, alongside the research, Ofcom has also today published Connectivity You Can Count On, a report on overhauling the quality of mobile service in UK wherever people live, work or travel.

It looks to build on the merger of Vodafone and Three, which has an important role in driving better outcomes, identifies areas for improvement, and calls for mobile companies, local authorities, big developers, Government and others to take coordinated action.

Today’s report is the latest move by Ofcom to push for better quality mobile service, following its role advising the Competition and Markets Authority on the approval of the merger, and the launch of its own Map Your Mobile coverage checker last year.

Thank you

It may be something to do with the way I read the forum?
I tend to right click and open 'Show unread posts since last visit' and 'show new replies to your posts' in new tabs.
Then I would go down and right click on the threads of interest etc.

I guess it is the opening of so many pages so quickly that is the problem?
I wonder if I open, then read one, then go to the next if that will solve the problem?

I am very grateful for you looking into this, I know what a nightmare a forum is behind the scenes, I recently upgraded the Bristol City forum, and had lots of little tweaks to make behind the scenes.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the first East West Rail services between Oxford and Milton Keynes Central via Winslow have been included in the base train timetable.

Answer

Answered on
4 June 2026

Chiltern worked with Network Rail, DfT and other operators on the December 2026 timetable and services have been timetabled between Oxford, Winslow, Bletchley and Milton Keynes. The Department continues to work closely with Chiltern Railways and other partners to confirm a start date for the first East-West Rail services between Oxford and Milton Keynes Central via Winslow.

Could it be that First's team at GWR also see an issue with more though services to England from west of Cardiff reducing income for First's team at Lumo ... on beyond 2026 ...

So what improvements would Plaid Cymru,Transport for Wales want?

20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 21:46

20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 21:46 will be started from Swindon.
It will no longer call at Westbury, Trowbridge, Melksham and Chippenham.

This is due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge.

21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58

21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 will be cancelled.

This is due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge.

22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12

22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12 will be cancelled.

This is due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge.

Ah ... that is NOT the message I would have guessed.  Taking a look as I get a chance.  Maybe overnight but as I missed it and it's waited a while anyway, another 20 hours won't be an issue.

Given that GWR will be back in public ownership later this year, it seems odd that they protested, other than under the instruction of someone senior at the DfT or GBR who didn't want to be seen directly interfering. So perhaps there's some kind of English/Welsh railway turf war going on?

Of course the Welsh could have sweetened the deal/mixed up things by offering to rebuild and return services to Pilning station and contribute to electrification of the Filton Bank. Hard to object to that.

For their part, GWR could quietly whisper in the ears of AM's how direct trains will make it more convenient for those in West Wales to fly from Bristol instead of Cardiff. That might provoke a few reactions.

Plaid Cymru demands talks with UK government to address 'unfair' HS2 rail funding

Plaid Cymru's new transport minister has asked for talks with the UK government to demand better rail funding for Wales.

Mark Hooper said successive UK governments had failed to address a "long-standing symbol of unfair rail funding" over High Speed 2, which is classed as an England and Wales project. Hooper said £445m announced for new stations last year "falls far short" and called for a "more ambitious" level of funding.

A Labour source said the UK government plans to "right the wrongs of historic underinvestment".

Plaid Cymru had promised at the May election to push for greater funding and powers from Westminster.

While a small number of lines in the south Wales valleys are maintained by the Welsh government, most rail infrastructure is the responsibility of the UK government.

Previous Welsh governments have long complained that Wales' rail network has suffered from under investment.

The large sums of money spent on HS2 ramped up those grievances. It was recently announced that the scheme could cost up to £102.7bn and may not open until 2039.

England-only schemes generate a consequential sum of money for Welsh budgets, but because HS2 was classed as an England and Wales project that has not happened, unlike Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Westminster UK government has argued it is addressing underinvestment in rail, announcing £445m for new rail stations and other projects a year ago.

Before the election Sir Keir Starmer committed to a plan of work worth £14bn over 15 years, although the vast bulk of the money to build the proposed 43 stations has not been identified.

Only the £445m has been formally committed, with cash confirmed for seven stations.

In a letter to Alexander, Hooper wrote: "For Wales, HS2 is also a long-standing symbol of unfair rail funding that successive UK governments have failed to address."

While he welcomed the endorsement of the £14bn Transport for Wales rail plan, the deputy transport minister said the funding announced last year "falls far short of addressing the historic under-investment. I am keen that our officials work together on a far more ambitious pipeline of investment ahead of the next spending review," he added. The next spending review is expected in 2027.

Hooper said the Welsh government "wants to negotiate fairer rail funding for Wales", along with a pathway to full devolution.

Plaid wants control over Wales' railways to be fully in the hands of the Welsh government.

A Labour source said: "After avoiding the topic during the Senedd election, it is a positive step forward that Plaid have finally thrown their support behind the up to £14bn plan for rail agreed by the UK Labour government and the previous Welsh Labour government."

"Worth far more than what Welsh government would have received had HS2, or any other rail project been devolved, this investment will bring new stations and better services to people across Wales and right the wrongs of historic underinvestment by successive Tory governments in Westminster."

Ambulance worker rearrested after six people die

An ambulance worker released on bail in connection with the deaths of six adults has been arrested on suspicion of two further offences, police say.

The 35-year-old man, from west Wiltshire, is facing two further counts of wilful neglect by a care worker. He was previously arrested in September on suspicion of six counts of gross negligence manslaughter and four counts of ill-treatment or wilful neglect by a care worker. He remains on conditional bail.

A 60-year-old woman who was previously arrested in connection with the same investigation remains on conditional bail. Both individuals were previously employed by the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT).

The pair were arrested in connection with Operation Willow, a major investigation into the death of several adults within a healthcare setting in the Wiltshire area. It has been ongoing since 2023 following concerns raised to Wiltshire Police. They were immediately suspended from duty pending the outcome of the investigation and are no longer employed by the trust.

A spokesperson for the SWASFT said: "As soon as the trust became aware of any concerns, we immediately launched an internal investigation which resulted in a prompt police referral, and we continue to work closely with Wiltshire Police as part of their ongoing investigation. We would like to reassure communities that there is no on-going risk to patients. Please continue to call 999 in a life-threatening emergency. Due to the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this stage."

Hi Grahame
Please see below, as requested

That's what I thought too - odd for a zombie franchise to be rocking the boat in this way, unless as you say it's at the bidding of another organisation (..........and if senior people at GWR are hoping for a nice, taxpayer funded job going forwards with GBR, they are probably quite biddable to the right people just now!)

Between Cardiff Central and Bristol Temple Meads they will call at Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Filton Abbey Wood, and Stapleton Road.

One train each way on weekdays and Saturday will additionally call at Bristol Parkway.

West of Cardiff the calling pattern will vary but will typically include Carmarthen, Pembrey and Burry Port, Llanelli, Gowerton, Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, and Bridgend with most services originating from, or extending to, Fishguard Harbour or Milford Haven calling at all stations.

The route was first approved by the rail regulator in 2022 after a drawn-out battle with Great Western Railway, which operates its own south Wales to London Paddington services and had opposed the application. The original proposals were submitted by Grand Union Trains, which secured regulatory approval before selling its rights to the route to FirstGroup in 2024.

Lumo – FirstGroup’s open access train brand – will now operate the service, running five return journeys a day between Carmarthen and London Paddington. The service will call at Llanelli, Gowerton, Cardiff, Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction and Bristol Parkway.

13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06


16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.

Given that GWR will be back in public ownership later this year, it seems odd that they protested, other than under the instruction of someone senior at the DfT or GBR who didn't want to be seen directly interfering. So perhaps there's some kind of English/Welsh railway turf war going on?

Oops - I missed picking that request up.  Please send me an image of the page you get - I THINK I know what the issue might be, but want to check that I address the right question.

First thought - open access license applications are supposed not to be primarily abstractive.  In other words to develop new markets.

   And those new markets in many cases can help the older markets too.  Not Open Access, but the re-instated services from Oxford to Swindon and the west will abstract traffic from Oxford to Didcot locals and from trains heading west that call at Didcot. 

Same today - perhaps the 2 are related?

...and not only that, the 6:46 Trowbridge-Bristol service was 4 carriages instead of the usual 2. Happy days