Overview
- The government this week pledged to fit more than 1,400 trains with satellite‑capable equipment and to launch ‘Project Reach’ to install lineside fibre in over 70 tunnels and deep cuttings.
- Ministers say trains will use low‑Earth‑orbit satellite links as well as 5G masts so onboard wifi can switch to the best signal and deliver much faster, more reliable service than current mobile‑mast systems.
- An early trial used Formula 1–derived hardware on a Great Western Railway unit (802101) that measured download speeds around 70Mbps while running at high speed, showing how roof‑mounted antennas and onboard computers pick the strongest link.
- Officials expect the first retrofits within months and name state operators such as LNER and TransPennine as early beneficiaries, with reported initial funding of about £57 million for nationalised main‑line services.
- Experts warn delivery could be slow and uneven over several years and note risks from vendor dependence on providers like Starlink, mixed tunnel coverage where fibre is not yet fitted, and political and operational questions about contracts and rollout speed.