Scottish train passengers get satellite internet from Starlink

Deutsche Bahn is using new masts to improve mobile phone reception on trains. The Scottish rail company ScotRail has decided not to expand its network and says it wants to provide passengers with fast internet from satellite.

ScotRail has equipped several trains operating in the Highlands with Starlink terminals. Passengers on the routes in the north of Scotland will be able to surf via the satellite network of the US space company SpaceX.

With this project, ScotRail is tackling the problems that have long existed with Internet on trains, said Scott Prentice, Head of Planning at the national rail company. The field trial will initially run for six months.

Better access to the cameras on the trains

In addition to a better internet connection for passengers, ScotRail hopes that the satellite internet will improve communication with train staff and passengers as well as live access to the cameras on the trains. It should also improve the quality of travel information on the train.

ScotRail has converted six trains for the project in cooperation with Clarus Networks for communication with Starlink – the Scottish company Clarus Networks is a Starlink reseller. The trains running in the north of Scotland, on the routes from Inverness to Wick, Thurso, Kyle of Lochalsh and Aberdeen, are marked accordingly.

If the field test is successful, ScotRail intends to retrofit further Class 158 trains accordingly. New trains should then be equipped with the technology straight away.

In Germany, a declaration of intent for "Gigabit on the track" was signed at the digital summit last fall in order to improve mobile phone coverage on trains: As part of the refurbishment of the railroad line from Hamburg to Berlin, Deutsche Bahn plans to erect a small mast every two kilometers for mobile network operators to use.

(wpl)