Mobile signal blackspots to be eliminated on many of the UK's major train routes

Train journeys tin beryllium frustrating astatine the champion of times - with passengers having to enactment up with delays, noisy commuters oregon a deficiency of disposable seats.

However, bid users could soon person 1 little happening to interest astir arsenic mobile awesome blackspots - wherever the net cuts retired and pauses your favourite TV amusement oregon crippled - are acceptable to beryllium eliminated connected galore of the UK's large bid routes by 2028.

The move, called Project Reach, comes aft the Department for Transport (Dft) signed a woody with Network Rail and telecoms companies Neos Networks and Freshwave.

The installation of infrastructure is expected to statesman adjacent twelvemonth and volition initially spot Neos Networks instal 621 miles of ultra-fast fibre optic cablegram on parts of the East Coast Main Line, West Coast Main Line, Great Western Main Line and Chiltern Main Line.

There is an ambition to grow the cabling beyond 3,107 miles successful the "near future", the DfT said.

Freshwave volition tackle blackspots successful 57 tunnels - covering astir 31 miles - including the Chipping Sodbury passageway adjacent Bristol and the Gasworks and Copenhagen tunnels extracurricular King's Cross.

As portion of the deal, mobile web operators volition besides put successful caller 4G and 5G infrastructure astatine 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.

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The DfT said the statement "brings unneurotic nationalist and backstage assemblage concern and infrastructure", and is expected to prevention taxpayers "around £300m".

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "This is simply a game-changer for passengers up and down the country, and volition revolutionise journeys from Paddington to Penzance and Edinburgh to Euston.

"By boosting connectivity and tackling awesome blackspots, we are besides ensuring a much reliable and businesslike service.

"This means amended journeys for passengers portion supporting our broader program for alteration goals of economical maturation and integer innovation."