Virgin Trains to Offer On-board Wi-Fi Service

T-Mobile UK and Virgin Trains today announced the launch of Wi-Fi internet services for passengers on Pendolino Virgin trains on the West Coast Main Line. The Wi-Fi HotSpot service will provide a wireless broadband connection throughout the entire journey, including all tunnel sections, at high speeds. The HotSpot service has been rolled out by T-Mobile's solution partner, Nomad Digital.

First Class passengers will get complimentary access to the service, while other passengers can purchase HotSpot passes online from their Wi-Fi enabled device. T-Mobile Mobile Broadband pay monthly customers have unlimited HotSpot access included in their plans, so will be able to access the new service at no extra cost. The service will initially be rolled out on Virgin's 52 Pendolino trains, and by mid Summer, the 21 Super Voyager trains will also be Wi-Fi enabled. Virgin's West Coast Main Line services see around 22.5 million passenger journeys per annum.

Graeme Lowdon, Nomad Digital chief executive said: "Nomad Digital was the first into the rail broadband market and we have continued to lead the field. Our system has been proved in different countries and on different networks, from the USA to the Middle East. We have worked with T-Mobile before in installing the first ever rail broadband system on the Brighton Express and Heathrow Express routes and we are delighted to be partnering them again.

"This new installation on one of the UK's main rail arteries is significant. Enabling high-speed data connectivity to trains provides numerous opportunities to deliver innovative services for passengers and we are delighted to be working on this project together with such forward thinking and customer focussed companies as T-Mobile and Virgin Trains. ''

Posted to the site on 27th April 2009