Latest news with #ProjectReach
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Network Rail and partners to tackle Britain's rail signal blackspots
Network Rail, Neos Networks, and Freshwave have announced a partnership called Project Reach, aimed at eliminating mobile signal blackspots across Britain's major rail routes. The commercial model of Project Reach combines public and private sector investment, with anticipated savings for taxpayers of around £300m ($411.7m). The project will initially involve Neos Networks laying 1,000km of ultrafast fibre optic cable along key rail lines, with plans to expand to more than 5,000km. The rail lines will include the East Coast, Chiltern, West Coast, and Great Western Main Lines. Freshwave will work with mobile network operators to improve mobile coverage in 57 tunnels and their adjacent cuttings. This includes tunnels such as Chipping Sodbury near Bristol and those surrounding King's Cross station. The company will target investment to address coverage gaps in rail tunnels and upgrade wireless infrastructure at major railway stations. The deal includes a commitment from mobile network operators to invest in new 4G/5G infrastructure at 12 of Network Rail's largest stations, including Birmingham New St and Manchester Piccadilly. The upgraded infrastructure will enable Network Rail to better monitor railway assets and support the adoption of new technologies. Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said: 'This is a game changer for passengers up and down the country and will revolutionise journeys from Paddington to Penzance and Edinburgh to Euston. 'By boosting connectivity and tackling signal blackspots, we are also ensuring a more reliable and efficient service.' Neos Networks will commercialise spare fibre capacity as part of the project, enhancing Network Rail's critical telecoms infrastructure. This will not only provide the necessary future capacity for digitally driven railway benefits but also create a digital connectivity backbone for businesses, connecting data centres and high-performance edge facilities. Network Rail chief financial officer Jeremy Westlake said: 'I'm delighted that we have now signed this innovative deal with our partners Neos Networks and Freshwave. This investment model will deliver the necessary upgrades to our telecoms infrastructure faster whilst offering significant value-for-money for the taxpayer and stimulating wider economic benefits across the country.' The multi-year Project Reach is set to commence mobile infrastructure installations in 2026, with full rollout expected by 2028. Recently, Network Rail entered a contract worth £500m with British Steel for the provision of over 337,000 tonnes of railway track for the coming five years, starting from July 1st. "Network Rail and partners to tackle Britain's rail signal blackspots" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Major UK travel announcement could see end of £18billion problem
The governmental body has announced that mobile signal blackspots are set to be a thing of the past on many of Britain's key train routes. This comes after Network Rail, owned by the Government, signed a deal with telecoms firms Neos Networks and Freshwave A major Department for Transport (DfT) announcement could soon see the end of an £18billion problem facing the UK's railways. The governmental body has announced that mobile signal blackspots are set to be a thing of the past on many of Britain's key train routes. This comes after Network Rail, owned by the Government, signed a deal with telecoms firms Neos Networks and Freshwave. Travellers frequently experience dropped calls and poor internet connectivity while on trains. Dubbed Project Reach, the new agreement will see Neos Networks lay down 1,000km (621 miles) of high-speed fibre optic cable along sections of the East Coast Main Line, West Coast Main Line, Great Western Main Line, and Chiltern Main Line as an initial step. The DfT has expressed hopes to extend the cabling to over 5,000km (3,107 miles) in the "near future". Freshwave is set to address signal issues in 57 tunnels spanning almost 50km (31 miles), including tackling the notorious Chipping Sodbury tunnel near Bristol. Additionally, mobile network operators are poised to pour investment into new 4G and 5G infrastructure at 12 major railway stations: Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Edinburgh Waverley, Euston, Glasgow Central, King's Cross, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Paddington, and Waterloo. The DfT has hailed the agreement as a fusion of public and private sector investment and infrastructure, which is anticipated to save taxpayers "around £300 million". The financial incentive to out connection issues on the UK's rail network is clear. Economics Professor Daniel Susskind, from Kings College London, estimates that the total economic value tied up in time spent on board trains in the UK is around £18 billion a year. If all trains in the country had fast, reliable internet, then either commuting white collar workers could put in extra hours rather than reading a book or looking out of the window, or time spent in the office could be made shorter by starting the workday from the carriage of a train. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has hailed a major development as "a game-changer for passengers up and down the country," promising to transform trips from Paddington to Penzance and Edinburgh to Euston. "By boosting connectivity and tackling signal blackspots, we are also ensuring a more reliable and efficient service," she said. READ MORE: 'I tried the UK's new high-tech £200million trains with underfloor heating' Alexander highlighted that these improvements align with wider objectives, stating, "This means better journeys for passengers while supporting our broader plan for change goals of economic growth and digital innovation." Jacqueline Starr, the Rail Delivery Group's executive chair and CEO, expressed her enthusiasm for the project: "We know how much customers value good mobile connections when they travel and we're delighted that a digitally connected railway will soon become a reality. "We know how much customers value good mobile connections when they travel and we're delighted that a digitally connected railway will soon become a reality." Starr also pointed out the economic and environmental advantages of rail travel: "Travelling by rail drives economic growth by connecting businesses and communities, improving productivity, and supporting the transition to net zero. "Travelling by rail drives economic growth by connecting businesses and communities, improving productivity, and supporting the transition to net zero." She further added that the telecoms upgrade across the network will enable everyone to stay in touch during their travels: "This vital upgrade to telecoms across the network will give everyone the opportunity to stay connected, wherever they're headed. "This vital upgrade to telecoms across the network will give everyone the opportunity to stay connected, wherever they're headed." The rollout of Project Reach's infrastructure is set to kick off next year, with completion targeted for 2028.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Poor mobile signal on UK trains could be no more
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced 'Project Reach', a significant initiative to boost mobile signal and internet connectivity for train passengers across Britain. A landmark agreement between Network Rail, Neos Networks, and Freshwave will see 1,000km of ultra-fast fibre optic cable installed along major routes, with plans to extend beyond 5,000km. Freshwave will specifically target connectivity issues within 57 tunnels, covering nearly 50km of track, including notorious blackspots like the Chipping Sodbury tunnel. Mobile network operators will invest in new 4G and 5G infrastructure at 12 major railway stations, including London Euston, King's Cross, and Manchester Piccadilly. The project, which combines public and private sector investment, is expected to save taxpayers around £300 million and is scheduled for completion by 2028.
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
New deal will end many mobile blackspots for rail passengers, Government claims
It made the claim after an agreement was signed between Government-owned Network Rail and telecoms companies Neos Networks and Freshwave. Passengers often suffer from dropped calls and weak internet connections when travelling by train. The new deal, named Project Reach, will initially see Neos Networks install 1,000km (621 miles) of ultra-fast fibre optic cable along parts of the East Coast Main Line, West Coast Main Line, Great Western Main Line and Chiltern Main Line. There is an ambition to expand the cabling beyond 5,000km (3,107 miles) in the 'near future', the DfT said. Freshwave will tackle blackspots in 57 tunnels covering nearly 50km (31 miles), including the Chipping Sodbury tunnel near Bristol. As part of the deal, mobile network operators will also invest in new 4G and 5G infrastructure at these 12 railway stations: Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, Edinburgh Waverley, Euston, Glasgow Central, King's Cross, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Paddington and Waterloo. The DfT said the agreement 'brings together public and private sector investment and infrastructure', and is expected to save taxpayers 'around £300 million'. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'This is a game-changer for passengers up and down the country, and will revolutionise journeys from Paddington to Penzance and Edinburgh to Euston. 'By boosting connectivity and tackling signal blackspots, we are also ensuring a more reliable and efficient service. 'This means better journeys for passengers while supporting our broader plan for change goals of economic growth and digital innovation.' Jacqueline Starr, executive chair and chief executive officer of Rail Delivery Group, said: 'We know how much customers value good mobile connections when they travel and we're delighted that a digitally connected railway will soon become a reality. 'Travelling by rail drives economic growth by connecting businesses and communities, improving productivity, and supporting the transition to net zero. 'This vital upgrade to telecoms across the network will give everyone the opportunity to stay connected, wherever they're headed.' The installation of infrastructure under Project Reach is expected to begin next year and be completed by 2028.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Weak signals on train journeys could soon be a thing of the past
The Department for Transport has announced 'Project Reach', a major initiative to significantly improve mobile signal and internet connectivity for train passengers across Britain. A landmark agreement has been signed between Network Rail, Neos Networks, and Freshwave to eliminate dropped calls and weak signals on key routes. Neos Networks will install 1,000km of ultra-fast fibre optic cable along major lines, with an ambition to expand beyond 5,000km, while Freshwave will address connectivity issues in 57 tunnels. Mobile network operators will also invest in new 4G and 5G infrastructure at 12 major railway stations as part of the deal. The project, which combines public and private sector investment, is expected to save taxpayers around £300 million and is scheduled for completion by 2028.
