When did trains get WiFi?

[renegademaster]

My gut feeling was that it was around when the Electrostar came out but i can't find any publicity from the time.

 

[Darandio]

I always thought GNER were the pioneers on wi-fi in this country, happy to be told otherwise.

 

[superalbs]

My gut feeling was that it was around when the Electrostar came out but i can't find any publicity from the time.

Most Electrostar units were only fitted with WiFi in the last 10yr!

 

[Rescars]

Do you mean fitted with WiFi or delivering reliable WiFi? On most routes there would be a significant gap between the two dates!

 

[Steddenm]

Most Electrostar units were only fitted with WiFi in the last 10yr!

There were some Electrostar services when they came in to use on Southern (maybe SouthCentral at the time) which had a special T-Mobile branding on the doors advertising wifi on the train. From what I recall though it was expensive to use and not very good.

 

[Flying Snail]

I always thought GNER were the pioneers on wi-fi in this country, happy to be told otherwise.

2004, according to the provider.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I always thought GNER were the pioneers on wi-fi in this country, happy to be told otherwise.

A contemporary news report on the BBC website seems to confirm this. 1st December 2003, in First Class accommodation only, on just a couple of GNER trains running on the East Coast.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Broadband arrival for GNER trains

Extract...

GNER, which operates the London to Scotland main line route, is the first train operator to offer high-speed net coverage and says it will revolutionise public transport in the UK.

More here to back this up...

Delayed GNER Wi-Fi train trial steams out

19-day trial run for First Class passengers

www.theregister.com

Extract...

UK train company GNER yesterday began a free, 19-day Wi-Fi trial on board rail services out of London's Kings Cross to Scotland and the North of England.

Unless, of course, anyone can demonstrate otherwise!

 

[Sad Sprinter]

There were some Electrostar services when they came in to use on Southern (maybe SouthCentral at the time) which had a special T-Mobile branding on the doors advertising wifi on the train. From what I recall though it was expensive to use and not very good.

Yes I remember seeing this circa 2009