Wi-fi part of next ScotRail franchise

TRAIN passengers will be able to access wi-fi on major Scottish routes as part of the next ScotRail franchise from 2014, ministers have announced.

The move came as a three-month free trial on trains between Edinburgh and Glasgow from June was confirmed. Four class 170 ScotRail trains on the main route between the cities will be equipped with two systems to test their effectiveness in a £250,000 pilot.

There are currently several blackspots, including tunnels, on the line via Falkirk.

Transport minister Keith Brown said: “The Rail 2014 [franchise] consultation set out our stall with a vow to bring full wi-fi connection to train journeys.”

He said it was intended that the next franchise will require passenger access to the internet and voice communications between Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness.