Latest news with #NeosNetworks
Western Telegraph
23 minutes ago
- Business
- Western Telegraph
New deal will end many mobile blackspots for rail passengers, Government claims
It made the claim after an agreement was signed between Government-owned Network Rail and telecoms companies Neos Networks and Freshwave. Passengers often suffer from dropped calls and weak internet connections when travelling by train. The new deal, named Project Reach, will initially see Neos Networks install 1,000km (621 miles) of ultra-fast fibre optic cable along parts of the East Coast Main Line, West Coast Main Line, Great Western Main Line and Chiltern Main Line. There is an ambition to expand the cabling beyond 5,000km (3,107 miles) in the 'near future', the DfT said. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the deal as 'a game-changer for passengers up and down the country' (Andrew Matthews/PA) Freshwave will tackle blackspots in 57 tunnels covering nearly 50km (31 miles), including the Chipping Sodbury tunnel near Bristol. As part of the deal, mobile network operators will also invest in new 4G and 5G infrastructure at these 12 railway stations: Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Edinburgh Waverley, Euston, Glasgow Central, King's Cross, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Paddington and Waterloo. The DfT said the agreement 'brings together public and private sector investment and infrastructure', and is expected to save taxpayers 'around £300 million'. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander 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 means better journeys for passengers while supporting our broader plan for change goals of economic growth and digital innovation.' Jacqueline Starr, executive chair and chief executive officer of Rail Delivery Group, said: 'We know how much customers value good mobile connections when they travel and we're delighted that a digitally connected railway will soon become a reality. 'Travelling by rail drives economic growth by connecting businesses and communities, improving productivity, and supporting the transition to net zero. 'This vital upgrade to telecoms across the network will give everyone the opportunity to stay connected, wherever they're headed.' The installation of infrastructure under Project Reach is expected to begin next year and be completed by 2028.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mobile signal blackspots to be eliminated on many of the UK's major train routes
Train journeys can be frustrating at the best of times - with passengers having to put up with delays, noisy commuters or a lack of available seats. However, train users could soon have one less thing to worry about as mobile signal blackspots - where the internet cuts out and pauses your favourite TV show or game - are set to be eliminated on many of the UK's major train routes by 2028. The move, called Project Reach, comes after the Department for Transport (Dft) signed a deal with Network rail and telecoms companies Neos Networks and Freshwave. The installation of infrastructure is expected to begin next year and will initially see Neos Networks install 621 miles of ultra-fast fibre optic cable along parts of the East Coast Main Line, West Coast Main Line, Great Western Main Line and Chiltern Main Line. There is an ambition to expand the cabling beyond 3,107 miles in the "near future", the DfT said. Freshwave will tackle blackspots in 57 tunnels - covering nearly 31 miles - including the Chipping Sodbury tunnel near Bristol and the Gasworks and Copenhagen tunnels outside King's Cross. As part of the deal, mobile network operators will also invest in new 4G and 5G infrastructure at these 12 railway stations: Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Edinburgh Waverley, Euston, Glasgow Central, King's Cross, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Paddington and Waterloo. Read more from Sky News The DfT said the agreement "brings together public and private sector investment and infrastructure", and is expected to save taxpayers "around £300m". Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander 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 means better journeys for passengers while supporting our broader plan for change goals of economic growth and digital innovation."
Rhyl Journal
24 minutes ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
New deal will end many mobile blackspots for rail passengers, Government claims
It made the claim after an agreement was signed between Government-owned Network Rail and telecoms companies Neos Networks and Freshwave. Passengers often suffer from dropped calls and weak internet connections when travelling by train. The new deal, named Project Reach, will initially see Neos Networks install 1,000km (621 miles) of ultra-fast fibre optic cable along parts of the East Coast Main Line, West Coast Main Line, Great Western Main Line and Chiltern Main Line. There is an ambition to expand the cabling beyond 5,000km (3,107 miles) in the 'near future', the DfT said. Freshwave will tackle blackspots in 57 tunnels covering nearly 50km (31 miles), including the Chipping Sodbury tunnel near Bristol. As part of the deal, mobile network operators will also invest in new 4G and 5G infrastructure at these 12 railway stations: Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Edinburgh Waverley, Euston, Glasgow Central, King's Cross, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Paddington and Waterloo. The DfT said the agreement 'brings together public and private sector investment and infrastructure', and is expected to save taxpayers 'around £300 million'. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander 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 means better journeys for passengers while supporting our broader plan for change goals of economic growth and digital innovation.' Jacqueline Starr, executive chair and chief executive officer of Rail Delivery Group, said: 'We know how much customers value good mobile connections when they travel and we're delighted that a digitally connected railway will soon become a reality. 'Travelling by rail drives economic growth by connecting businesses and communities, improving productivity, and supporting the transition to net zero. 'This vital upgrade to telecoms across the network will give everyone the opportunity to stay connected, wherever they're headed.' The installation of infrastructure under Project Reach is expected to begin next year and be completed by 2028.
Sky News
31 minutes ago
- Business
- Sky News
Mobile signal blackspots to be eliminated on many of the UK's major train routes
Train journeys can be frustrating at the best of times - with passengers having to put up with delays, noisy commuters or a lack of available seats. However, train users could soon have one less thing to worry about as mobile signal blackspots - where the internet cuts out and pauses your favourite TV show or game - are set to be eliminated on many of the UK's major train routes by 2028. The move, called Project Reach, comes after the Department for Transport (Dft) signed a deal with Network rail and telecoms companies Neos Networks and Freshwave. The installation of infrastructure is expected to begin next year and will initially see Neos Networks install 621 miles of ultra-fast fibre optic cable along parts of the East Coast Main Line, West Coast Main Line, Great Western Main Line and Chiltern Main Line. There is an ambition to expand the cabling beyond 3,107 miles in the "near future", the DfT said. Freshwave will tackle blackspots in 57 tunnels - covering nearly 31 miles - including the Chipping Sodbury tunnel near Bristol and the Gasworks and Copenhagen tunnels outside King's Cross. As part of the deal, mobile network operators will also invest in new 4G and 5G infrastructure at these 12 railway stations: Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Edinburgh Waverley, Euston, Glasgow Central, King's Cross, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Paddington and Waterloo. The DfT said the agreement "brings together public and private sector investment and infrastructure", and is expected to save taxpayers "around £300m". Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander 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 means better journeys for passengers while supporting our broader plan for change goals of economic growth and digital innovation."
STV News
3 hours ago
- Business
- STV News
Rail passengers set to benefit as deal struck to eliminate mobile blackspots
Rail passengers in Scotland are set for a major connectivity boost, as a new UK Government deal aims to eliminate mobile signal blackspots on some of Britain's busiest train routes. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander announced the landmark agreement – entitled Project Reach – on Thursday. It will upgrade digital infrastructure across the network, with Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley among 12 major stations to receive new 4G and 5G coverage. The move comes as millions of rail users regularly face dropped calls and patchy signal on routes including the East Coast and West Coast main lines. Scottish travellers heading south or across the central belt often experience long stretches without mobile data or call signal, particularly in tunnels and rural sections of track. Network Rail, working with telecoms partners Neos Networks and Freshwave, will begin installing over 1,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable, with ambitions to expand to 5,000 kilometres. The project will also tackle 57 signal blackspots in tunnels – equivalent to nearly 50 kilometres of coverage improvements. Work is due to start in 2026 and be completed by 2028. Alexander said the upgrades would 'revolutionise journeys from Edinburgh to Euston and beyond, boosting connectivity, improving reliability and helping to grow the economy.' She added: 'By boosting connectivity and tackling signal blackspots, we are also ensuring a more reliable and efficient service. 'This means better journeys for passengers while supporting our broader Plan for Change goals of economic growth and digital innovation.' Freshwave will focus on improving signal in notoriously poor areas, including long tunnels, while Neos Networks will lead the fibre infrastructure rollout. The partnership between government and private firms is expected to save taxpayers around £300m. The enhanced telecoms network will also improve train operations, helping staff monitor assets in real time and introducing new safety features. It forms part of a wider effort to modernise Britain's railways ahead of the transition to Great British Railways, a unified national rail body. Jeremy Westlake, Network Rail's chief financial officer, said the deal 'delivers better value for taxpayers while supporting a data-driven, more reliable railway.' The announcement builds on previous government plans to introduce satellite internet access on mainline trains – part of a broader effort to improve Wi-Fi speeds and availability across the rail network. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
