Study Claims to Identify Best and Worst UK Train Lines for WiFi
A recent study from business comparison service Bionic claims to have identified the best and worst UK train line operators for onboard WiFi internet access, which was achieved by analysing negative reviews that mentioned the service. The results suggest that the best operator for WiFi is ScotRail, while the worst came out as Cross Country trains.
In order to arrive at its results, the study examined both the percentage of negative online reviews that referenced WiFi and the train line’s overall rating. Conversely, this means that, for the Wi-Fi ranking, the closer the score is to one, the better the onboard broadband connectivity is (i.e. for Wi-Fi on trains).
However, we would have much rather seen a more scientific or crowd-based study, ideally one that specifically examined onboard WiFi performance via network testing / speedtests than relying on flaky online consumer reviews. In addition, we don’t know how many negative reviews were collected for each operator or from where, which suggests to us that these results should be taken with a big pinch of salt and not treated too seriously.
Advertisement
Overall, ScotRail came top because just 1% of their online reviews related to the onboard Wi-Fi and the operator itself had an overall rating of 3 out of 5, giving them an overall score of 2.5 on Bionic’s index. By comparison, Cross Country trains had the worst onboard Wi-Fi in the UK, with a score of 21.8. This poor score is a reflection of the 4.74% of reviews that include a negative sentiment towards Wi-Fi performance, and the low overall ranking of the train operator itself (1.5 out of 5).
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
« Altnet ISP Grain Offers 3 Months of Free Full Fibre Broadband
Full Fibre UK Broadband ISP Connexin Appoints New CFO »
Not quite sure how tfw can be marked as one of the best when their system doesn’t operate at all unless your staff. Meanwhile it’s possible to hold calls over data on avanti, only dropping out when going through a tunnel.
How is TFL not in here??? Besides being completely unreliable with record strikes, there’s nowhere wifi to be seen except select stations
All on-board wifi provides is a good connection between you and the train. There is nothing that can be done about the signal between the train and the mobile network – so it’s never going to work brilliantly in a rural location or at all in a tunnel.
In Year 2024 with Starlink and many tunnels including 50km channel tunnel with internet already.. What is again the reason for not having a good WiFi on a train? Answer – Lazy Bean Counters. All technology is there and at reasonable costs, now just need to go and rapidly implement. Many talks about blackspots, but actually trains are becoming the only blackspots now. While people and businesses can get starlink almost anywhere, including on one’s car.. Its pretty difficult to take starlink while you are on a train or in a tunnel. I think we all need to make a bit more noise about the only real blackspots nowdays..
What ? Nothing can be done about the signal from/to the train. Sorry but thats just so obviously false its laughable.
Am I right that Bionic guys have no clue how internet on train works and it is all about mobile network white spots – to be more specific where particular train is traveling?
Or how to spell Stansted correctly, it seems.
This is an interesting article but as stated the report may be limited in its usefulness. Two of the top five rated are airport links – passengers who arrive in the UK without a data service may be happy with any free WiFi, regardless of the quality of the connection and therefore be more likely to leave a more positive review / advise other travellers of the availability of WiFi on the route.
Does WiFi on any train in the UK actually work? I’ve actually never seen it work ever.
I would agree with that.
If it works I am quite surprised.
The reputation is so bad, I usually don’t even try connecting to a WiFi on a train.
The train picture (shown near Alvechurch, West Midlands?) in this article ironically is one of the trains where the Wifi is almost always knackered. That rolling stock is almost entirely replaced now, so I’m not surprised that operator can’t be bothered to replace or repair the kit.
The newer West Midlands Class 730 trains do have Wifi that works.
Also no mention of Chiltern Railways, which is also fairly reliable in my experience. Avanti’s is very hit and miss though.
I appreciate the speed on these services can be basic, but if you do hop onto their Wifi network, then Wifi Calling (on EE for me) is usually pretty rock solid and does hold up during the journey.
I am quite excited by Blu Wireless though – https://www.bluwireless.com/insight/next-station-the-future-boosting-railway-systems-with-advanced-wireless-solutions/
Maybe scotrail is good somewhere, but the Inverness Aberdeen run is apalling. As is the rural 4G so go figure.