{"id":23503,"date":"2020-08-10T08:04:32","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T07:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/?p=23503"},"modified":"2020-08-11T13:55:30","modified_gmt":"2020-08-11T12:55:30","slug":"eurostar-trains-stop-wifi-in-standard-class-because-covid19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/2020\/08\/eurostar-trains-stop-wifi-in-standard-class-because-covid19.html","title":{"rendered":"Eurostar Trains Stop WiFi in Standard Class Due to COVID19 ? UPDATED"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an odd development Eurostar has blamed the Coronavirus for their decision to disable wireless broadband connectivity (WiFi<\/a>) in their Standard class train coaches. Meanwhile those travelling in Standard Premier and Business Premier are apparently immune and can still surf the internet (bandwidth allowing).<\/p>\n

Normally those commuting on Eurostar should be able to access the EurostarTrainsWiFi<\/strong> (SSID) service, which is supplied to their trains via a track-side network of 3G<\/a> and 4G<\/a> based mobile broadband cells. But in an unusual development the operator has given the vague excuse of the COVID-19<\/strong> crisis for the reason why they haven’t extended this to Standard class.<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/strong> In case anybody has forgotten (unlikely), Eurostar carries people to and from the UK and Europe via the Channel Tunnel.<\/div>\n

Writing on Twitter<\/a> the operator said: “As a result of coronavirus we have had to review and amend some of the services we offer and at the present time we are only able to offer WiFi<\/a> in our [Standard Premier and Business Premier] carriages. Our apologies for the inconvenience caused<\/em>.” Well, that makes about as much sense as dancing naked on lava.<\/p>\n

The unusual change is one of several of adjustments that have been made as a result of COVID-19 (here<\/a>), which among other things includes a requirement to wear masks, new seating arrangements, extra hygiene measures for catering and social distancing etc. But we normally wouldn’t expect this to be a problem for WiFi<\/a> connectivity. Suffice to say that social media has not been terribly forgiving.<\/p>\n

Stefan said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Either you are doing something extremely customer-hostile to save money or there\u2019s been a woeful miscommunication somewhere.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Toby Leonard said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Could you please ask the person who made this decision how Covid affects WiFi signals in economy cabins – and not – Business class cabins?”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Alayer said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“It is part of the MD strain of covid19. This is the Mobile Device Strain. People in first class will have an individual Sanitized VPN included with their WiFi protocol. They only have a limited number of these.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Needless to say, we’ve already contacted Eurostar and are hopeful that there will be a more logical reason for their decision. Just to be clear, Eurostar’s website normally says: “Our new and refurbished trains have free wi-fi throughout.<\/em>”<\/p>\n

UPDATE 11th August 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

So far nobody in Eurostar’s media office has bothered to return our hails, but as if by magic their social media team have today done a U-turn: “We are pleased to say that WiFi is now available on board and is free throughout all classes of service<\/em>.<\/span>” But they still haven’t explained why COVID-19 was preventing them from doing this before.<\/p>\n

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We are pleased to say that WiFi is now available on board and is free throughout all classes of service.<\/p>\n

— Eurostar (@Eurostar) August 11, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n