ScotRail prepares wi-fi rollout for services

FREE wi-fi will be available on ScotRail trains between Scotland’s cities by the end of next year, ministers announced yesterday.

The move extends a pledge to provide the service on all trains on the main Edinburgh to Glasgow line by then, following the launch of a trial with four trains on the route in June.

All 59 of ScotRail’s class 170 diesel trains, which also run between the two cities, Aberdeen and Inverness, and to Alloa and Fife, will be equipped for wi-fi.

However, passengers were warned the service, which speeds up internet access, will be available only in existing mobile phone coverage areas.

Funding of £2 million from the Scottish Government’s Transport Scotland agency will equip five to six additional trains a month from March.

ScotRail said feedback from the three-month trial, showed 77 per cent satisfaction with speed and performance.

Transport minister Keith Brown has pledged to have wi-fi on all ScotRail trains by 2019.