Just discovered that the GWR main line to Paddington now has free wifi. It used to be limited to just some GWR lines. Train moderately full on a Saturday, Speedtest showing about 0.6 Mbps download, quite a decent ping too. No streaming, not even audio, possible. Stutters occasionally but then recovers. But perfectly OK for posting in places like HUKD and email.
So this is just a heads up so you can know to take an iPad/tablet on the train and no need to faff with a phone hotspot.
Top comments
scrimpersdelight
25 Sep 165#5
not free as you have to buy a train ticket on the first place! Otherwise you could have posted 'free seats and toilet facilities onboard GWR trains' (in the case of seats, subject to availability).
All comments (25)
praveenmarru
25 Sep 16#1
Thank you buglawton.
jools2001
25 Sep 161#2
Travel every Saturday in Cornwall, wifi is utter crap on the high speed trains,constantly disconnects, even the ticket inspector agreed,she couldn't even use it for Facebook,
It's a good deal, if only it worked tho!
Spasho to jools2001
25 Sep 16#11
:neutral_face:
buglawton
25 Sep 16#3
In the West Country on train journeys I've long ago discovered that as soon as you see open fields, all mobile coverage disappears. The rail companies should be thinking of a higher tech way to get data to moving trains.
WestMidlands to buglawton
26 Sep 16#14
That would be satellite data
decosparkle25
25 Sep 16#4
It's terrible. There is a quota per user and once that is gone it doesn't work. Usually useable first thing in the morning in good signal areas but then no good.
scrimpersdelight
25 Sep 165#5
not free as you have to buy a train ticket on the first place! Otherwise you could have posted 'free seats and toilet facilities onboard GWR trains' (in the case of seats, subject to availability).
M1ke_Hunt
25 Sep 161#6
Likewise, you would need to but a smartphone/laptop to utilise the wifi :man:
rvnmax
25 Sep 16#7
Meaning was that the WiFi is part of the package the customer buys when buying a ticket, hence not free as you are probably paying for it anyway. If it was properly free, it would be paid through other (people's) purchases. The cost of the WiFi is not included in any smartphone/laptop purchase. :man:
mah624
25 Sep 16#8
very unreliable. I live in Devon. some of the commuter trains have wifi, it's not just limited to intercity. however service is very intermittent. still, if you want a way to pass the time on a train journey, messing around with your wifi settings is as good as anything!
I think railways have their own communication network (tetra) which could/should mean they could always provide a connection.
Opening post
So this is just a heads up so you can know to take an iPad/tablet on the train and no need to faff with a phone hotspot.
Top comments
All comments (25)
It's a good deal, if only it worked tho!
I think railways have their own communication network (tetra) which could/should mean they could always provide a connection.