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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

204 replies

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 22/05/2023 17:56

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?

OP posts:
Obels · 23/05/2023 00:03

shammalammadingdong · 22/05/2023 18:15

I don't know anyone who doesn't have unlimited data. Isn't that the standard now?
Not in UK so I don't know, but I pay 8e a month for unlimited data and national calls. Who needs free wifi?

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I pay over £20 a month with O2 and only get 3gb of data... Who are you with???

Spiderboy · 23/05/2023 00:06

I always use data. Train WI-FI is shit, too slow to load anything. I’ve never been given the option to pay either. Always free, and shit. So I wouldn’t pay

DdraigGoch · 23/05/2023 00:07

shammalammadingdong · 22/05/2023 23:52

I don't think you know what a Faraday cage is if you think a train is any kind of one, poor or otherwise!

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It's a metal box (even the windows have a metal film to keep the sun off). It will disrupt EMR.

SgtBilko · 23/05/2023 00:09

skilpadde · 22/05/2023 18:03

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 agree with this. We want to be a prosperous and forward looking country but we seem to be ever going backwards with this sort of stuff. I don’t have data on my tablet and only use wi-fi and for a long journey I find it invaluable.

DdraigGoch · 23/05/2023 00:10

Obels · 23/05/2023 00:03

I pay over £20 a month with O2 and only get 3gb of data... Who are you with???

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I've just checked O2's website and saw a 50GB package for £18.

Divorcedalongtime · 23/05/2023 00:11

I couldn’t care less. I have data

wohmum · 23/05/2023 00:14

Obels · 23/05/2023 00:03

I pay over £20 a month with O2 and only get 3gb of data... Who are you with???

Show quote history

I’m with O2 and recently changed my sim only tarrif to 75gb for around £25 per month

Deathbyfluffy · 23/05/2023 00:15

musixa · 22/05/2023 18:09

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

Shockingly it’s not just about you - some people work while travelling so they don’t have to spend as long in the office, or use the time to catch up on life admin if they work long hours and struggle to fit everything in.

Personally I don’t use it, but it’s not hard to see why some people view it as very important

Obels · 23/05/2023 02:30

DdraigGoch · 23/05/2023 00:10

I've just checked O2's website and saw a 50GB package for £18.

Show quote history

Hmmmm, might be because it was for a phone as well initially... Now I've paid off the phone, so I'm only paying for my package yet somehow still paying over the odds for shit amount of data!!! I'll have to change that...

Haywirecity · 23/05/2023 04:06

I'd happily sacrifice wifi for a cheaper ticket.

EmpressaurusOfCats · 23/05/2023 04:51

I don’t trust public Wi-Fi & I’m pretty sure my work would go nuts if I wanted to connect my laptop to it.

ButtOutBobsMum · 23/05/2023 05:17

We are also constantly lectured at work not to use public wifi due to the security risks so I wouldn't risk it.

Beezknees · 23/05/2023 05:37

The wifi is always shit on trains. I end up just using my data!

musixa · 23/05/2023 05:52

Deathbyfluffy · 23/05/2023 00:15

Shockingly it’s not just about you - some people work while travelling so they don’t have to spend as long in the office, or use the time to catch up on life admin if they work long hours and struggle to fit everything in.

Personally I don’t use it, but it’s not hard to see why some people view it as very important

Show quote history

This is a forum where I am giving my opinion on the subject raised in the OP. Of course my response will be 'all about me'. What do you expect me to do - conduct a survey of a random section of the population before replying?

XXXMangoLassiXXX · 23/05/2023 05:56

My highest priority is a change of government.

coffeerevelsrule · 23/05/2023 06:03

Fuck, what a depressing thread. Loads of people going, 'well I don't need/want it,' 'Hasn't everyone got free data anyway? what idiot wants to watch Netflix on a train? etc' Not long ago we were at the forefront of innovations and progress. I worked in an international hotel in my 20 s and worked alongside people from across Europe, many of whom loved coming to Britain because it felt progressive, ahead of the game, tolerant etc etc, much as they loved their own countries. It had a good vibe here, as ds would say now.

Now...I don't work there anymore, but bloody hell, everyone can see we are trailing far behind pretty much everywhere else and the country has turned into a complete shithole. People must think they've gone back in time when they arrive here - no free wifi, pot holes everywhere, endless queues on arrival, empty shelves in shops...god forbid they get ill and need the NHS. Embarrassing and depressing.

marshmallowmatcha · 23/05/2023 06:12

Don't see why they shouldn't charge £5 for it

chillyprepper · 23/05/2023 06:16

Low priority for me. I used to connect my laptop to my phone data which is very easy. Train wifi was appalling where I lived

peachicecream · 23/05/2023 06:17

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 22/05/2023 18:13

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 ...

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I have a more or less unlimited data plan (as do many people these days) so it makes no difference whether I get access through that or free wifi.

The only reason to care is if you're on a low/ no data plan and want to watch a lot of videos/ download large files. That's not many people really and train wifi is notoriously unrealiable anyway.

peachicecream · 23/05/2023 06:18

I'd much rather we have trains running on time with properly paid staff than free wifi.

peachicecream · 23/05/2023 06:19

Obels · 23/05/2023 00:03

I pay over £20 a month with O2 and only get 3gb of data... Who are you with???

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Wow, you need to look at that deal!

I'm with O2 and pay about £11 for unlimited.

wildinthecountry · 23/05/2023 06:22

Correct me if I'm wrong didn't Corbyn have some sort of a policy of free internet access and folks thought it was a rubbish policy ?

Yerroblemom1923 · 23/05/2023 06:22

My properties are a guaranteed seat and a train that's on time. I usually take a book and headphones to enjoy my train journeys.
And if there's no WiFi it's is a good excuse not to have to work on your commute etc and you can just chill and enjoy the ride 😊

QueueEtwo · 23/05/2023 06:24

coffeerevelsrule · 23/05/2023 06:03

Fuck, what a depressing thread. Loads of people going, 'well I don't need/want it,' 'Hasn't everyone got free data anyway? what idiot wants to watch Netflix on a train? etc' Not long ago we were at the forefront of innovations and progress. I worked in an international hotel in my 20 s and worked alongside people from across Europe, many of whom loved coming to Britain because it felt progressive, ahead of the game, tolerant etc etc, much as they loved their own countries. It had a good vibe here, as ds would say now.

Now...I don't work there anymore, but bloody hell, everyone can see we are trailing far behind pretty much everywhere else and the country has turned into a complete shithole. People must think they've gone back in time when they arrive here - no free wifi, pot holes everywhere, endless queues on arrival, empty shelves in shops...god forbid they get ill and need the NHS. Embarrassing and depressing.

I was thinking exactly the same!

AuntieMarys · 23/05/2023 06:26

peachicecream · 23/05/2023 06:19

Wow, you need to look at that deal!

I'm with O2 and pay about £11 for unlimited.

Show quote history

Same here...£12 for unlimited with 02