Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to mobile phone networks on trains.

In December 2016 my Department introduced a requirement that future rail franchises have better mobile connectivity for their passengers. My Department is also working closely with the Department of Digital, Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) to see what further improvements can be made to mobile connectivity on trains. DCMS will be shortly consulting upon commercial options to improve mobile communications for rail passengers and will invest up to £35 million to enable trials, as announced in the Budget. This will be used to: upgrade the Network Rail test track in Melton Mowbray; install trackside infrastructure along the Trans-Pennine route between Manchester, Leeds and York; and support the rollout of full-fibre and 5G networks.