UK to Eliminate Track-to-Train Not-Spots in Huge Multi-Million Pound National Deal

Thursday 26 Jun 2025

The UK government has signed a major new deal designed to boost mobile coverage and remove WiFi not-spots on key national rail routes.

The contract, named Project Reach was signed today (26^th June) and will see Network Rail work with telecoms companies, Neos Networks and Freshwave to eliminate mobile signal blackspots on main lines running between London, Manchester, Newcastle and Cardiff.

It also builds on the recent £41 million contribution confirmed in the government’s National Infrastructure Strategy designed to introduce low-earth-orbit satellite connectivity on all mainline trains. This, the DfT says, will significantly improve both the availability and internet data connection speeds for WiFi connected passengers.

Project Reach, the government happily says, will mix public and private sector investment and infrastructure and, according to the DfT press release, it will save taxpayers around £300 million while creating a high-performing digital connectivity backbone for businesses.

The new scheme will initially see Neos Networks deploy 1,000km of ultra-fast fibre optic cable along the East Coast Main Line, parts of the West Coast Main Line and the Great Western Main Line, with “ambition” to expand beyond 5,000km in the near future.

In addition to this, Freshwave will tackle signal blackspots in 57 tunnels, covering almost 50km, including the 4km-long Chipping Sodbury tunnel near Bristol.

As part of the deal, mobile network operators will also invest in new 4G/5G infrastructure at 12 of the biggest Network Rail stations across the country including Birmingham New St, Bristol Temple Meads, Edinburgh Waverley, Euston, Glasgow Central, King’s Cross, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Paddington and Waterloo.

Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, said, “This is a game changer for passengers up and down the country and will revolutionise journeys from Paddington to Penzance and Edinburgh to Euston. By boosting connectivity and tackling signal blackspots, we are also ensuring a more reliable and efficient service.”

This is a multi-year project with the first installation of mobile infrastructure expected to begin in 2026 and fully rolled out by 2028.

The DfT also claimed that the enhanced network will enable better monitoring of railway assets and facilitate new technologies that rely on improved connectivity, paving the way for more reliable train services and improved safety for railway workers.

On-Train WiFi services, trackside communications systems and LEO satellite-delivered broadband will feature heavily at this year’s Traincomms Conference in London (www.Traincomms.com ).

The Main Sponsors for Traincomms 2025 are Icomera and Huber+Suhner, Westermo, Antonics, Galgus and Nomad Digital are also Sponsoring the Conference.

Xentrans, CGI, and Lantech are the Expo Sponsors

For more information on attending the 2025 Conference please contact [email protected]

The full programme for this year’s Traincomms Conference is available here: https://www.traincomms.com/#content2b

 

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BWCS Consultancy

As many companies in this very niche sector look to sharpen their offering, grow their customer base and increase their revenues, remember that BWCS is available for ad hoc consultancy to support your aspirations. We have worked for a long list of players in the Traincomms market. 

Our core competencies include Understanding your markets, Growing your business, and Modelling your business options. Although we are best known for our work in the Transport sector, we also work in the Defence & Security and the Telecommunications Sectors too.

Please get in touch to discuss your requirements and if we can help we will, and if we can’t we will tell you so… [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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