WiFi Provided by UK Train Companies Ranked by Passengers

Thursday 16 Oct 2025

Reports comparing on-train WiFi services are like buses, it appears, you wait ages for one and then two come along at once. The latest data-set to emerge, this week, comes from Uswitch broadband and is restricted to how travellers feel about the WiFi offered by the numerous train companies operating in the UK.

The survey kicks off with the less than surprising assertion that 86% of British commuters spend at least some of their train-time working (or pretending to work). However, only a third admit to doing so “very regularly”.

The good news, for some, is that Uswitch broadband found that 25% of the country’s 28 operators score top marks (10/10) for offering free, uncapped WiFi on every train.

The companies in question are:

•         LNER

•         TransPennine Express

•         ScotRail

•         Avanti West Coast

•         South Western Railway

•         Chiltern Railways

•         Northern Railway

Uswitch then goes on to rank all operators using a range of factors, including streaming support, usage caps, free access and more. Needless to say, respondents took the opportunity to stress that improvements can be made.

The key findings are:

•         Greater Anglia tops the list as the UK’s most work-friendly train operator, scoring 62/70 for reliability, comfort, and connectivity.

•         LNER takes second place with a 58/70 score, followed closely by Merseyrail in third with a score of 56/70.

•         Every operator in the top ten offers free onboard WiFi, but data caps and speed restrictions mean some commuters get a better deal than others.

•         Newer fleets such as Greater Anglia and Merseyrail scored higher for cleanliness, sockets, and modern onboard facilities.

1. Greater Anglia - 62/70

Greater Anglia tops the list for working commuters, offering free WiFi on all trains with data allowances of 90-125MB and almost universal access to power sockets, perfect for staying productive on the move.

Punctuality is strong too, with trains arriving on time 83.8% of the time. Passengers also rate crowding (8/10) and cleanliness (7/10) highly. Modern rolling stock (10/10) and very low complaints per passenger-kilometre (9/10) make it a reliable and comfortable choice for working during the commute.

2. LNER - 58/70

LNER comes in second with an overall score of 58/70. LNER scores highly for connectivity, with fast, free WiFi across all services and full access to three-pin sockets and USB ports (10/10).  Although punctuality is lower at 57% (4/10), passengers enjoy minimal crowding (8/10) and great cleanliness (8/10). Rolling stock is newer and well-maintained (8/10), while complaints remain low (9/10), providing a productive and comfortable commuting experience.

3. Merseyrail - 56/70

Merseyrail takes third place with a total score of 56/70. Merseyrail offers widely available power sockets (10/10), but WiFi is only available on new trains as the rollout continues. Punctuality is good at 69.6% (7/10), with exceptional passenger satisfaction for crowding (10/10) and cleanliness (10/10). Rolling stock scores 7/10, and complaints per passenger-kilometre are low (9/10), making it a mostly connected and very comfortable option for commuters looking to work on the move.

However, challenges remain across the rest of the network with travellers facing ongoing frustrations with slow speeds, shared bandwidth, and coverage gaps in rural areas.

(source: https://www.uswitch.com )

A repeat of the survey in a year or two’s time may make interesting reading after the UK government-backed Project Reach has kicked in. The public/private funding agreement, which was finalised in June, aims to enhance mobile phone coverage and internet access on major railway routes across the UK by removing "blackspots," particularly in tunnels. In addition it will see 1,000km of fibre optic cable installed along crucial lines, with construction due to commence next year and finish by 2028.

Project Reach as well as other Initiatives across Europe and the US to improve on-board connectivity will feature heavily at this year’s WiFi on Trains Conference, hosted by BWCS 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.

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