Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress Network Rail has made on improving passenger mobile connectivity through the upgrade from GSM-R to the Future Railway Mobile Communication System; and what the planned timeline is for that upgrade.

The Government is committed to improving passenger connectivity as a core part of the rail offer. This is why the Department secured funding as part of the Spending Review to use low earth orbit satellite connectivity to significantly improve on train Wi-Fi for our passengers on mainline trains. We anticipate delivery starting in the next few months, subject to Business Case approval.

Network Rail’s transition from GSM‑R to the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) represents a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to address longstanding gaps in mobile coverage. While FRMCS is primarily an operational 5G communications system, the associated rollout of trackside infrastructure – including masts and fibre – can be leveraged with mobile network operators to reduce ‘not‑spots’ and improve direct‑to‑device connectivity for passengers.

The mandated transition to FRMCS before 2040 is in the planning stages with new infrastructure to be delivered progressively over the next decade, and passenger connectivity benefits realised incrementally as infrastructure is deployed across the network.