To think free wifi on trains is not a low priority for passengers?

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65673622

Being reported that the government thinks free wifi is a low priority for passengers so could be cut to save money. Maybe I am out of step, but I really appreciate it, especially on long journeys. I don't watch TV or films, just browse the net on and off and use Whatsapp. Is it really impossible to have a properly staffed train service running more or less to time and also offering free wifi?

Just use your data. Unlimited data plans are not hard to come by.

It’s a low priority to me as I will use my phone’s hotspot or read my book. If I wanted to watch something, I would have downloaded it in advance

Haven’t you got mobile data? Train Wi-Fi is so unbelievably unreliable I’ve never found it worthwhile.

Yes I think free wifi should be available on all public transport to be honest.

Another example of the government being out of touch with everyday people's needs.

It's a low priority for me because it's usually so unreliable so I don't even bother trying to connect

I know we have mobile data but free wifi should still be a public facility.

Why? Just use your phone data like you would anywhere else, or read a book.

Some routes have rubbish data connection. The onboard WiFi is the only way to access the Internet.

(DH has to use the Portsmouth to London route for example... and answer work emails while doing it)

I can image it being high priority if you're working on the train as part of your flexible working hours. So no WiFi meant you had to stay in the office longer.

But for browsing & what's app on occasional journeys? Appreciated but no, not vital.

Late trains, low serviced lines, fare prices, closed for maintenance and replacement services are all a higher priority for me as a passenger.

Free public wifi is standard in many European city centres and some town centres (you can access it just sitting on a park bench).

Yet here in the UK, we think it's some extraordinary privilege to get wifi access on a train, despite having paid the most exorbitant ticket prices.

It's amazing.

I think consideration should be given to free wifi on trains as opposed to writing it off as not a priority because not everyone can afford data and quite often there are data blind spots.

Impressive you’ve managed films with it, IME it’s usually slow and patchy. Tbh I’d rather the train turned up when it was supposed to and after that maybe that I could get a seat. So would agree 100% it’s low priority.

Avanti West Coast wifi seems to be OK, based on my 5.5 hour journeys Euston to Glasgow every few months. Lots of my fellow passengers are working on laptops all the way. No idea whether they're using the train wifi or their own data.

The connection on local services around London seems a lot more variable but for a short journey I don't really care.

No I buy my own like everyone else

The signal on huge amounts of my line is crap, total dead spots in some. If my train is late, as it usually is I will often start dealing with emails before I officially start work as its a gamble on how long I mighr be delayed.
Mind you it does make me laugh that they say WiFi was rolled out in 2015. Not on bloody Northern it wasn't. We only got rid of the dreaded Pacers in 2021, they barely had waterproof windows and roofs never mind WiFi!

I agree. I don't understand why our bar is set so low on public services.

No, never use it - I'm happy just reading a book on the train - I don't need to be online 24/7.

I think its low priority compared to the billions of other things that are more important.
But then I have free wifi on my commuter train, so....

It should be a priority. As pp's have said, the train fares are already extortionate and other countries appear to manage it without a fuss! The reality is for some parts of the country, its not as simple as saying just use your data. Its almost impossible to connect using my own data on my regular commute. The rail WiFi may be slightly patchy but it gives me some connection that I otherwise wouldn't have and enables me to check and respond to emails etc. If they really want us to use public transport more often then they should consider relatively simple benefits that make it worthwhile.

I don't use it - I find if I don't have good enough signal to use mobile data, the train wifi doesn't really work either.

I would like wifi or mobile internet on the tube though. It's bloody annoying having to reconnect at every station, and it being tied to your phone/internet provider is also annoying. It amazed me when I went to Barcelona and had full 4g on the metro 6 stories underground!

YANBU At £50 for my fare per day, they should be able to provide free wifi.

And they need to remember, on longer distances, the only benefit of travelling by train rather than flying, is wifi access so I can get some work done.

I admit I don't know what it costs to provide wifi on a train but can't imagine it's that expensive.

Like everyone else? Why do people provide free wifi then? Am I the only tightwad in the UK who always checks whether there's free wifi? I am of course paying for it one way or another - taxes, coffee price, train fare ...

I love the comment about losing custom. People rarely have a choice about which train they commute with!

I've never been able to use it, it's always unreliable and really slow. I don't bother trying anymore.