S'funny. I'm sure it's not long since the DfT were querying whether passengers actually needed wifi on trains - awkwardly, this was at a time when ticketing purchase via mobile phones was a rapidly emerging force.

Mark

The Department for Transport says cost pressures mean it will review whether the current wi-fi service "delivers the best possible value for money".

"Our railways are currently not financially sustainable, and it is unfair to continue asking taxpayers to foot the bill, which is why reform of all aspects of the railways is essential," the Department for Transport (DfT) said.

On-train wi-fi equipment installed in 2015 is now in need of replacing and the government said many people on short journeys did not connect to the on-train wi-fi, and used their mobile phone network instead.

It must be one mighty tree to cover such an area!


Turns out the tree is near Bodmin.......

Cancellations to services between Totnes and Truro

Due to a tree blocking the railway between Totnes and Truro the Penzance line is blocked.

Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 17:45 06/06.

15:39 Swindon to Westbury due 16:21

15:39 Swindon to Westbury due 16:21 is being delayed between Chippenham and Melksham and is now expected to be 12 minutes late.
This is due to congestion.

Exclusive access: Testing London's next-generation Piccadilly line trains

BBC London has been given exclusive access to the testing of the trains on closed sections of the Piccadilly line. Transport bosses say these are in technological terms some of the world's most advanced trains. Does the reality live up to the hype?

As the train pulls into the station, there are about 50 passengers with their phones out taking pictures.

The halo light around the cab gives it a hint of Darth Vader's TIE Fighter in the sci-fi classic Star Wars.

This is the new Piccadilly line train – or officially the 2024 Tube Stock - and it is causing a bit of a stir.

It is early in the morning and a 20-mile stretch of the line is shut, between Northfields in west London and Oakwood in north London. It is one of many weekend closures that may not be going down well with travellers but which Transport for London (TfL) says are necessary to test the new train and modify the infrastructure.

(BBC article continues, with many images)

In conclusion, the issues of Wi-Fi and mobile service on trains are well known, and the solutions are already being tested and implemented. Has this report from Ofcom actually provided any value?

    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.