Connectivity is so bad that passengers often go ‘off grid’ on UK trains

Stepping on board a train in the UK can mean passengers go “off grid” on their journey, a new study on railway mobile signals has shown.

New research by communications industries regulator Ofcom found that mobile networks typically offer poor quality service to train passengers.

It found mobile performance was poor on between 58 per cent and 83 per cent of tests carried out on trains.

Ofcom measured mobile performance across 24 segments of key railway lines in England, Scotland and Wales, studying how often a phone could perform well while making video calls, streaming content or scrolling social media.

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

Out of the segments that Ofcom tested, the London Victoria to East Croydon rail line had the best connectivity, performing best with EE, while O2 and Vodafone also provided good signal on the journey.

One of the lowest scoring routes was Basingstoke to Coventry (via Reading and Oxford), with all four network providers showing very low performance on the journey.

Ofcom said its results show that for too many people, “stepping on board can mean going off grid”.

It points to the core problem that mobile signals from masts are often not strong enough around train lines, while some carriages are difficult for signals to pass through.

Rural and intercity passengers were found to experience worse service than those travelling in cities and urban areas. Performance was also shown to worsen at peak times for commuters.

While many train companies offer on-board wifi, Ofcom also tested this out and found it performed well only one per cent of the time. It said outdated technology and limited wifi speeds cause this issue.

Ofcom says it is calling on mobile companies, local authorities, big developers and the government to provide better quality mobile service.

Natalie Black, Ofcom’s group director for infrastructure and connectivity, said: “People rightly expect connectivity they can count on — and delivering it will require a joined‑up national effort.

“We are determined to play our part and will work closely with industry, government, local authorities and others to break down barriers standing in the way of progress, so we can enable economic growth, make everyday life more seamless, and ensure people get more out of the service they pay for.”

EE is a division of the BT Group. A BT spokesperson said: “Nobody is investing more in the UK’s networks than BT. This decade alone we will have invested over £40 billion to strengthen the nation’s connectivity, and these investments have delivered important improvements to the performance of our mobile network at train stations and along major rail routes.

“Ofcom’s report clearly highlights the progress we have made, with EE customers getting a much more reliable experience on the UK’s rail network compared to anyone else.

“However, as customer expectations grow and evolve, we recognise more progress is needed across the board – which is why we raised rail connectivity as a crucial part of the UK Government’s Mobile Market Review.

“Our research shows that by improving rail connectivity we can unlock £12 billion for the economy. So, while we welcome the Government’s recent investment commitments, to secure lasting benefits for both passengers and the UK, there needs to be improved collaboration between train companies, network operators, Ofcom and the Government. Only together can we bring about real change and ensure passengers get the high-quality connectivity they need.”

The Independent has contacted Three, O2 and Vodafone for comment.

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