LU/Elizabeth Line 4G update

[JonnyM]

I've done precisely the same switch, O2 to 1pM, and the difference is night and day, especially above ground but also on TfL 5G signals. Much like the cell towers above ground, I feel O2 simply have too many customers on not enough infrastructure.

Interesting article about speeds on the EL here - https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.p...-performance-on-the-elizabeth-line-train.html

 

[Recessio]

Interesting article about speeds on the EL here - https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.p...-performance-on-the-elizabeth-line-train.html

Interesting reading, thanks. Will be interested to see what Vodafone and Three are like after the merger

 

[TheHolyGrayl]

Managed to get signal on my O2 work phone on the Northern line from King’s Cross to Old Street on my commute home this evening - didn’t pick up any signal on EE using my personal phone though so looks like it’s still being tested. Glad to see some love for the Bank branch!

 

[Adsy125]

Signal seems to have been extended further South too, now working at least as far South as Tooting Broadway on O2.

 

[pbin]

…In 2025 we will be delivering coverage on the subsurface lines.

Was added to the bottom of the page linked between 12/12/24 and 14/01/25 (according to archived versions of the website). Have they mentioned SSL delivery any other time?

Not holding my breath considering this project’s history

 

[bnc2018]

There was phone signal on the platform at Moorgate, and then in the tunnel to Bank today (on Three)

 

[Mojo]

I noticed last week on two separate days there was no signal between Westminster and Waterloo on the Eastbound. It wasn’t just me either, a few other people in my car were visibly having trouble

 

[vuzzeho]

I noticed last week on two separate days there was no signal between Westminster and Waterloo on the Eastbound. It wasn’t just me either, a few other people in my car were visibly having trouble

Yeah, I had that on the Westbound too (Vodafone). What happened?

 

[boiledbeans2]

I noticed last week on two separate days there was no signal between Westminster and Waterloo on the Eastbound. It wasn’t just me either, a few other people in my car were visibly having trouble

I rountinely have this problem. See post #674

LU/Elizabeth Line 4G update

These are completely separate issues, one does not make the other any less of an issue. It can if the senior management is under pressure to focus on a health and safety issue.

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[JonnyM]

Signal seems to have been extended further South too, now working at least as far South as Tooting Broadway on O2.

Is it live now between South Wimbledon and Morden? Anyone confirm?

 

[Geogregor]

Is it live now between South Wimbledon and Morden? Anyone confirm?

According to this article not yet:

More London Underground tunnels get mobile coverage as rollout expands

Mobile phone coverage on the London Underground is expanding, with more sections of the Piccadilly, Northern, and Victoria lines being switched on recently.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

 

[announcements]

Frustratingly both the top end of the Northern line city branch, and both bits of the Victoria line don't seem to be working for Vodafone/Lebara.

 

[Pete_uk]

Anyone have an app (like Network Cell Info) which displays what frequency is used in any given place on the tube?

 

[mrmartin]

Anyone have an app (like Network Cell Info) which displays what frequency is used in any given place on the tube?

NetMonster

 

[Eliottjames]

Frustratingly both the top end of the Northern line city branch, and both bits of the Victoria line don't seem to be working for Vodafone/Lebara.

Also not working on EE, seemingly only O2 at the moment

 

[MrJeeves]

I had connectivity between Finchley Central on Vodafone through to Camden Town today. EE was not active on most of this journey.

 

[James H]

A few new bits of info in this FOI response:
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transp.../foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-1016-2526

Whilst work is ongoing to install the vast amount of radio equipment and many kilometres of cable required across the Underground network, additional assurance work (that assures both safe operation and high-quality connectivity), has meant that bringing mobile coverage to some additional stations and tunnels has taken longer to complete than expected. The project is being delivered at pace for such a large transport network, however, the introduction of mobile coverage across the Tube, DLR and London Overground network can only be delivered when the network is closed, with engineers working within short windows overnight to install technology and carry out testing.



We are delivering mobile coverage to the oldest lines on the network with the operational challenges that brings. As such, work will continue throughout 2025 and 2026 to fully introduce coverage within stations and tunnels. This includes introducing coverage at the following stations by December 2025 and June 2026:

Stations planned for completion by December 2025:

Holloway Road

Mansion House

Blackfriars

Balham

Moorgate

Bayswater

Battersea Power Station (NLE)

Euston Square

Vauxhall

King’s Cross St. Pancras

Stations planned for completion by June 2026:

Marylebone

Cannon Street

Warwick Avenue

Gloucester Road

Euston Square

Paddington

Aldgate

Edgware Road

Great Portland Street

Lambeth North

Knightsbridge

Old Street

Victoria

Maida Vale

Temple

Brixton

Kilburn Park

Liverpool Street

St. John’s Wood

Sloane Square

St. James’s Park

Aldgate East

Highbury & Islington

The work during 2026 will be primarily on some sections outside of Central London, sections of the Circle and District line where a number of stations already have limited mobile coverage due to being closer to the surface, as well as where smaller tunnelled sections need to be treated individually. TfL is working closely with Boldyn Networks, who are responsible for the delivery of this programme, to ensure that it is completed as quickly as possible so customers can stay connected as they travel through Central London.

 

[Mawkie]

A few new bits of info in this FOI response:
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transp.../foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-1016-2526

So when can we expect Euston Sq to be completed?

 

[Dave W]

Also not working on EE, seemingly only O2 at the moment

I can get 4G on my EE phone on the Victoria, although weirdly it seems to work best from KX to about halfway to Highbury when it defaults to "no service". South of that it exists, but is patchy in how much I get out of it.

 

[announcements]

A few new bits of info in this FOI response:
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transp.../foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-1016-2526

Quite a meagre list for the remainder of 2025. Interestingly this year will have BPS complete but not Nine Elms... Why not do the whole branch?!

According to this article not yet:

More London Underground tunnels get mobile coverage as rollout expands

Mobile phone coverage on the London Underground is expanding, with more sections of the Piccadilly, Northern, and Victoria lines being switched on recently.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

Also, just realised this map doesn't include Oval and Kennington...

 

[Dave W]

I can get 4G on my EE phone on the Victoria, although weirdly it seems to work best from KX to about halfway to Highbury when it defaults to "no service". South of that it exists, but is patchy in how much I get out of it.

Worked so well this morning I got an incoming call at Oxford Circus! I, of course, did not answer.

 

[Recessio]

Worked so well this morning I got an incoming call at Oxford Circus! I, of course, did not answer.

Its not like the other end would be able to hear much during certain stretches of the Victoria line anyway!

 

[Mojo]

I’ve been travelling a fair bit on the Elizabeth line at rush hour this week and have been finding the network intermittently completely unusable for data services, even though my phone says I have full bars and 4G. I’m on the train now and it says I have 2 bars and 5G, and it’s working fine, but the train isn’t busy, yet just gone east of Stepney Green junction with the train almost empty and had nothing at all until arriving at Canary Wharf.

 

[James H]

A couple of new FOIs with some nuggets of info

Customer mobile coverage is provided by the Mobile Network Operators who all have different policies relating to when they switch on services. Some turn on as they become available while others require the stations at each end to be ready before they turn on the service. We have no control over that process and so, while the network is being built, it is not as continuous as we would like. However, once complete at the end of 2026 there will be continuous coverage everywhere and this will not be an issue.

Source: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transp.../foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-1483-2526

and

• We have changed the scope of the stations on the DLR and London Overground from Emergency Service Network (ESN) to Commercial Mobile Service (CMS) coverage.
• We have accelerated the Elizabeth line CMS coverage, and it is now launched.
• We have changed the order of delivery from a 4G first to a combined 4G and 5G service from launch.
• There are also several changes related to areas of the contract not related to the mobile coverage on the Tube.

Source: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transp.../foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-1328-2526

 

[popeter45]

I’ve been travelling a fair bit on the Elizabeth line at rush hour this week and have been finding the network intermittently completely unusable for data services, even though my phone says I have full bars and 4G. I’m on the train now and it says I have 2 bars and 5G, and it’s working fine, but the train isn’t busy, yet just gone east of Stepney Green junction with the train almost empty and had nothing at all until arriving at Canary Wharf.

been experiencing the same between Liverpool street and Stratford

 

[JonnyM]

A couple of new FOIs with some nuggets of info


Source: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transp.../foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-1483-2526

and

Source: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transp.../foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-1328-2526

The dates now seem to collect around the end of 2026 timeframe. Hopefully the Operators would agree with that. I am doubtful.

Interesting what is said in the second para, regarding the changing the scope of the rollout on the DLR and London Overground to a CMS and not part of the ESN. What does that mean in reality I wonder? The devil will be in the detail.
Also, the third line about changing the order of delivery. I take it that when future parts are made live it will be 4G/5G together, at the same time, rather than 4G first and 5G following on later (?).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2025 ==

Frustratingly both the top end of the Northern line city branch, and both bits of the Victoria line don't seem to be working for Vodafone/Lebara.

I don't think any of the Victoria line is working on Vodafone yet? The Vic seems to be forgotten by Vodafone.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2025 ==

It's worth remembering that the Elizabeth Line system is significantly inferior to the London Underground solution.

The LUL one was procured much more recently and had been planned for high capacity 5G connectivity from the start, while the EL/XR solution was designed with 4G in mind, and the 5G deployed has been relatively low capacity frequencies and not the mid-band frequencies (in the UK, this is known as "n78") which you expect in major cities and high capacity locations.

One of the issues with locking in designs like this early on in procurement and construction, I suppose. And it's unlikely it'll be upgraded soon considering it's nowhere near end of life yet, having launched just a year or so ago.

What does this say about future capacity on the EL? As you say, the whole thing only launched about a year ago and it would seem that the system is creaking slightly under the weight of people who are using it. Is there any spare capacity built in?

 

[dub]

Interesting what is said in the second para, regarding the changing the scope of the rollout on the DLR and London Overground to a CMS and not part of the ESN. What does that mean in reality I wonder?

I think it's a good thing!

I read it as: they were going to have to install the equipment to support ESN but have decided to upgrade the capacity to support commercial networks too.

 

[mrmartin]

The dates now seem to collect around the end of 2026 timeframe. Hopefully the Operators would agree with that. I am doubtful.

Interesting what is said in the second para, regarding the changing the scope of the rollout on the DLR and London Overground to a CMS and not part of the ESN. What does that mean in reality I wonder? The devil will be in the detail.
Also, the third line about changing the order of delivery. I take it that when future parts are made live it will be 4G/5G together, at the same time, rather than 4G first and 5G following on later (?).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2025 ==


I don't think any of the Victoria line is working on Vodafone yet? The Vic seems to be forgotten by Vodafone.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2025 ==


What does this say about future capacity on the EL? As you say, the whole thing only launched about a year ago and it would seem that the system is creaking slightly under the weight of people who are using it. Is there any spare capacity built in?

Something isn't right with it, on O2 I only get assigned 800MHz and/or 2100MHz (and sometimes NR700). O2 has loads more spectrum than that they could use 2300MHz for starters). I am hopeful with time they will be able to get a lot more capacity out of what they currently have.

 

[MrJeeves]

I read it as: they were going to have to install the equipment to support ESN but have decided to upgrade the capacity to support commercial networks too.

This matches my understanding.

 

[otter11]

Past few weeks I've noticed my phone (EE) isn't connecting to the WiFi network (EE Wifi-Auto) any more. Network still shows but fails when I try to connect..
Anyone else experiencing this?