Passengers on UK trains continue to experience inconsistent onboard internet, with a government-backed upgrade plan now aiming to transform connectivity across the national rail network over the next five years.
During a morning journey from London to Norwich on Greater Anglia, the onboard Wi-Fi appeared unusually stable. Emails could be sent, messages delivered, and audio calls maintained without interruption. However, passengers say this level of performance is far from typical.
Rebecca Kendall, who travels regularly for work in the charity sector, said her experience often varies widely depending on the service and route. She takes the train around six times a month and relies on the journey time to keep up with work tasks. While she is sometimes able to complete emails and messaging, she estimates that she can only complete about half of what she would normally achieve in an office setting.
She said the connection frequently drops out entirely and makes video calls impractical. “I just wouldn’t risk having an important video call,” she said, adding that she always warns colleagues that she may lose signal during journeys.
Her experience reflects a wider issue across the UK rail network, where onboard Wi-Fi and mobile coverage often struggle to maintain consistency, particularly in rural stretches and tunnels. A 2025 report by network testing firm Ookla ranked UK train Wi-Fi 16th out of 18 major countries surveyed in Europe and Asia, with average speeds of just 1.09 Mbps. By comparison, Sweden recorded speeds above 64 Mbps and Switzerland nearly 30 Mbps.
The gap is even more stark when compared with general broadband speeds in the UK, where households and small businesses typically see maximum downloads of around 285 Mbps, according to Ofcom.
In response, the government has announced plans to significantly improve rail connectivity by rolling out satellite-based Wi-Fi across around 1,400 trains on mainline nationalised routes. The system will shift away from reliance on mobile networks and instead connect trains directly to low-Earth orbit satellites.
The Department for Transport says the upgrade could raise Wi-Fi availability from current levels of 50–60 percent to as high as 90 percent, while increasing speeds by five to ten times. Around £57 million has been allocated for the project, which is expected to be formally announced by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander in the coming months.
Trials of satellite connectivity have already been conducted with operators including LNER, South Western Railway, Great Western Railway and services in Scotland. Under the existing system, onboard Wi-Fi depends on 4G and 5G mobile networks, meaning coverage drops when trains move through areas with weak or no signal.
Later in the day, a return journey from Norwich to London highlighted the inconsistency passengers face. Laptop connections frequently dropped out, while mobile phones appeared to maintain stronger access, with some passengers able to stream video content. Others reported smoother laptop connectivity, showing uneven performance even within the same carriage.
Greater Anglia said its Wi-Fi performance depends on mobile signal strength along the route and the number of users connected at any given time. The operator also restricts access to some streaming services to manage bandwidth and continues to work with suppliers to improve reliability across its fleet.
